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THE AUTHOR, H. S. HOBSON. 

FROM A PHOTO TAKEN IN 1891. 



<#' 



The Famous Cruise 

of the 

Kearsarge 



AN AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT IN VERSE OF THE BATTLE WITH THE 

"ALABAMA" OFF CHERBOURG, FRANCE, ON SUNDAY, JUNE 1 9, 1 864; 

CONCLUDING WITH A BRIEF HISTORY OF THIS FAMOUS 

SHIP, TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING INFORMATION 

CONCERNING HER OFFICERS DURING THE 

CIVIL WAR, TO THE DATE OF HER 

WRECK ON RONCADOR REEF 

IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA, 

FEBRUARY 2, 1 894. 



-x/ 



ONB OF HHR ORIGINAL CREW, 



Bv H. S. HOBSON^^-;f;^v^;^v^ 
" --^pV's^?^ 

She survived the guns of the enemy and the perils of the deep for thirty 
years — only to lay her bones upon the surf-beaten shore of an "ocean grave- 
yard." Not conquered by the storm, but run upon well-known rocks in fine j 
weather : a victim to the careless navigation of her own officers. ; 7 « -» -5 \Jl 



BONDS VILLAGE, MASS. : 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 

MDCCCXCIV. 



(,,1%^ 



•1 



Copyright 1893 by H. S. Hobson, Bonds Village, Mass. 



Printed by Loring & Axtell, 
Springfield, Mass. 



Preface. 



An interesting history is connected with all old 
ships. What stories they might tell if they could but 
speak ! If the career of an ordinary ship is interesting 
how much more so is that of an old battle-scarred 
man-of-war. As, I believe, there has never been any 
book published giving an account of the Kearsarge's 
famous cruise, I have attepipted to tell in plain, simple 
verse of every port we touched and nearly everything 
that occurred during that memorable period. Every 
verse is founded on fact. At the request of some 
shipmates and friends I have concluded to have them 
published. 

H. S. HOBSON. 



TO MY SHIPMATES, 

THE VETERAN CREW OF THE FAMOUS OLD 
WAR SHIP, KEARSARGE. 

FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS WE SAILED THE OCEAN, PASSING 
THROUGH STORMS, DANGER, AND FINALLY BATTLE. WE HAD OUR 
SORROWS, WE HAD JOYS ; BUT THE GREATEST JOY OF ALL WAS ON 
THAT MEMORABLE NINETEENTH OF JUNE, 1 864, AT CHERBOURG, 
FRANCE, WHEN, BEFORE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, THAT ANGLO-REBEL 
PIRATE, THE "ALABAMA," CAME OUT TO SINK OUR GRAND OLD SHIP 
KEARSARGE. 

OUR COUNTRY'S FLAG WAS AT STAKE ; OUR NAVAL HONOR WAS 
ALSO AT STAKE. WE UPHELD BOTH. IN ONE HOUR AND TWENTY 
MINUTES THE NOTORIOUS SCOURGE OF THE SEAS WENT DOWN 
BENEATH THE GREEN WAVES OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL, AND NOT 
A CHEER ROSE FROM US, THE VICTORS. 

WE RECEIVED GRATEFUL PRAISE FROM A GRATEFUL NATION. 

TO MY SHIPMATES I ASCRIBE THE FOLLOWING VERSES. 

THE AUTHOR. 



A SOUVENIR 

TO ALL WHO LOVE THE UNION AND HONOR 
THE FLAG; AND ESPECIALLY THOSE BRAVE 
DEFENDERS WHO FOUGHT ON LAND AND 
SEA, THAT THE UNION MIGHT BE ONE AND 
INSEPARABLE. 



CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



Written for the ninth reunion of the Kearsarge veterans, held at Portsmouth, 
New Hampshire, June 19, 1893, on the twenty-ninth anniversary of the sinking 
of the "Alabama." 



This is a log* of the Kearsarge cruise, 

While on a foreign station ; 
Things that occurred at different times 

Are here written down in rotation. 

In January, eighteen sixty-two. 

At Portsmouth Navy-yard, 
A man-of-war went into commission : 

Her name was the Kearsarge. 

C. W. Pickering is her commander, 

The Stars and Stripes now float aloft, sir ; 

T. C. Harris is the first lieutenant 
And our executive officer. 

The Kearsarge is a very fast steamer, 
She is eoinof in search of the Sumter ; 

And was built expressly for 
A rebel privateer hunter. 

* Journal. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

The crew came from old Boston, 
From the United States Guard 'O ; 

And when they arrived at Portsmouth 
They looked rather hard 'o. 

At the wharf we laid two weeks, 

It seemed as if it were four ; 
It was so cold in Kittery 

I want to lay there no more. 

On the the fifth day of February 
The Kearsarge was ready for sea ; 

The crew were not very sorry 
At leaving cold Kittery. 

Everything being ready. 

We slipped our moorings from the wharf; 
There were a great many people 

To see the grand Kearsarge off. 

As we steamed down the harbor 

Our engine worked to suit. 
As we passed Fort Constitution 

They fired us a salute. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

After the forts we had passed 

We headed for the coast of Spain ; 

It probably will be many months 
Before we shall see America again. 

On the third day we got into a gale, 
It blew both strong and staunch ; 

It carried away the ship's head, 
A small boat, and the launch. 

On our passage across the gulf, 
The weather being rather rough. 

Some lost their pork and beans 
And others lost their duff.* 

We have been in a seven days' gale. 
The hardest any of our men have seen ; 

We came very near being shipwrecked 
While crossing the broad gulf stream. 

On the seventeenth day out, 

'' Land, ho !" was the welcome cry ; 

We gathered on the forecastle 
To see if it was nigh. 

*A pudding. 



lO FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

As it came plainer to our view, 
And we grew near and nearer, 

We soon discovered it to be 
The sunny island of Madeira. 

We came to anchor at six p. m., 

In the roads of Funchal ; 
The Portuguese flocked around us 

As thick as a black squall. 

Oh ! what a change from cold Kittery, 
Here the flowers are all in bloom ; 

The weather is full as warm here 
As it is at home the last of June. 

The voyage was hard on us landsmen 
Who have never been at sea before ; 

But we shall all be old salts 
Before the cruise is o'er. 

On a man-of-war you will learn fast. 
Soon see how everything is clone ; 

How to wash and scrub the deck 
And how to use the holystone. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. II 

We soon learned all the calls 

And how to heave the log ; 
The call we answered most quickly 

Was when they called, "All hands to grog." 

Life is very easy on a man-of-war, 
We are not often over-worked ; 

But we get so much pork and beans 
That we sometimes get over porked. 

If any of us should lose our teeth 
The cause we can trace way back 

To living on duff and " bull-yarn "* 
And eating so much hard-tack. 

We have stayed six days at Madeira 
And now we are off to sea again ; 

We are bound for fair Cadiz 
In the land of sunny Spain. 

On the fourth of March we made land 

And sunny Spain could see ; 
We soon saw fair Cadiz 

Rising o'er the deep blue sea. 

♦Canned beef. 



5 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KKARSARGE. 

Cadiz is a splendid old city, 

As I have oft been told ; 
One of the ancient walled cities, 

Over three thousand years old. 

Now we are laying off Cadiz, 
Riding at our iron halter ; * 

The news has come on board to-day 
That the Sumter is at Gibraltar. 

We are now off to sea aeain, 

Bound for the rock of Gibraltar ; 

We arrived there late at night 
And anchored in Spanish water. 

The U. S. Tuscarora is also here 
The pirate Sumter to blockade ; 

We will remain here also 
To lend her our aid. 

We weighed our anchor again to-day, 

To Gibraltar we did go ; 
We anchored near the Sumter 

Within almost a stone's throw. 

* Anchor. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 13 

Our anchor had not long been down 

When the port officer alongside did heave ; 

He said we could stay twenty-four hours, 
And then we must take our leave. 

The Sumter's crew sang rebel songs, 
" Dixie's Land" and others too ; 

We retaliated by singing 

" Hail Columbia," " Red, White and Blue." 

The Sumter is the first privateer 
That through the blockade did run ; 

She has burned a number of merchant ships, 
A number of millions damage done. 

Captain Semmes is rather old. 

In size not very large ; 
I think he does not like the looks 

Of the U. S. Steamer Kearsarge. 

Our twenty-four hours have expired. 
We are now getting under weigh ; 

Going back to Algeciras again. 

Which is eight miles across the bay. 



14 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We are now going to Tangier, 

Passing through the straits once more 

It is a city in the Moorish Empire 
Just down the African shore. 

We have just arrived at Tangier, 
The place looks poverty-stricken ; 

Our crew say that we came here 
To get a load of chickens. 

Some of the Moors are on board, 
I like their appearance well ; 

They have attar of rose, morocco shoes, 
And other curiosities to sell. 

Our gunners were called to quarters. 
For a short time remained mute ; 

And in honor of the Moors 
We fired a National salute. 

We had not long been through. 

Fifteen minutes or more ; 
When they returned our salute 

From their forts on the shore. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 1 5 

We remained here all night 

And now we are going away, 
Back to our old anchorage again, 

Which is in Algeciras Bay. 

We are lying off Algeciras yet, 

The weather is very fine ; 
Now we are going to Cadiz 

To repair our ship and engine. 

W^e passed through Trafalgar Bay, 
Where Nelson his last battle fought 

When he whipped the combined fleets ; 
It was here that he was shot. 

We are entering Cadiz harbor now. 

For some time we will stay ; 
We have just let go our anchor 

At the upper end of the bay. 

Still lying off Cadiz yet, 

We all like this old place ; 
To-night all hands were piped to skylark 

And to splice the main brace.* 

* Extra drink of grog. 



l6 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

Some got one drink too much, 

As they most always do ; 
When they were tired of skylarking 

They had a little set-to. 

We are now off for the Navy-yard, 
The Pilot has just come on board ; 

At Lacaraca, in Mud Creek,* 
The Kearsarge is now moored. 

The carpenters are now on board ; 

They work so very slow 
How long we shall remain here 

I am sure I do not know. 

This is a great place for making salt. 

Although it is very dear ; 
The same salt we can buy at home 

Cheaper than we can here. 

Last night two men ran away, 
It was about twelve o'clock ; 

A reward was offered for them 

And very quickly they were caught. 

* River to Navy Yard. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

They were brought on board to-day 
Dressed partly in citizens' rig ; 

They were put in double irons 
And confined within the brig.* 

We sent four sick men home to-day, 
Manual Lewis, and Henry Vandike ; 

John E. Chase, a first-class fireman. 
And also seaman Jacob Pike. 

Those two men escaped again last night, 
They were under charge of a sentry ; 

And how they managed to escape 
With us remains a mystery. 

The carpenters with their work are done, 
The Kearsarge we will unmoor her ; 

We are going back to Algeciras again 
To relieve the U. S. Tuscarora. 

"All hands unmoor ship," is the cry, 
Getting in our hawsers delayed us ; 

We came to anchor in the afternoon 
Off the good old city of Cadiz. 

* Lock up. 



l8 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We are now leaving the city of Cadiz, 
This morning being Sunday ; 

The U. S. Consul has come on board 
And we are now under way. 

As we were steaming slowly along, 
We did not wish to go fast ; 

A Spanish steamer came up with us 
And attempted us to pass. 

Our captain gave orders for more steam, 
Which made our propeller faster turn ; 

And in a very few minutes 

We left the Spanish steamer astern. 

We had general quarters and exercise, 

We fired our large battery ; 
To show the consul what we could do 

If we met the Sumter out at sea. 

We are now entering Gibraltar straits. 
We can plainly see the Rock ; 

We came to anchor near the Tuscarora 
Just about five o'clock. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 19 

Nothine of note has occurred 

Since I wrote my last dates ; 
The mail has arrived here to-day 

From the United States. 

Our minstrels gave a concert to-night, 
The quarter deck was full of spectators ; 

There were a number of ladies on board 
To witness our darky imitators. 

The U. S. Tuscarora left here to-day, 

To Cadiz she has gone ; 
Where she will remain some time 

To have some repairs done. 

Some of our men went on shore to-day 

And they got rather tight ; 
And with some Spanish soldiers on shore 

Had a pretty hard fight. 

It was the first time they had been on shore 
And they let themselves loose ; 

Only a few of them returned to-night, 
The rest were put in the calaboose. 



20 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

To-day they came out of the calaboose. 

They will not get in again, they said ; 
They were nearly eaten up by fleas, 

And they do not like a stone bed. 

I went on shore in Algeciras, 

It being my first time ; 
I like the Spanish people very well. 

But better their aguardiente and wine. 

Liberty is stopped again to-day, 

The reason why we all understand ; 

Our men acted so bad on shore 
The governor will not let us land. 

July the fourth, that great day, 

When the Colonists the British dared 

It is now just eighty-six years ago 
Since independence was declared. 

Our ship with flags was neatly dressed, 
This great day to commemorate ; 

All hands ''spliced the main brace," 
This glorious day to celebrate. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 21 

"All hands up anchor !" is the cry, 

It came up with good speed ; 
We are going to the Rock to take on stores, 

Of which we are much in need. 

We have taken on what stores we need, 
We are now back at Algeciras again ; 

As long as the Sumter stays at the Rock 
Here we are likely to remain. 

The U. S. Storeship Release is here ; 

For us she has clothing and tomatoes. 
Plenty of whisky, pork and beans, 

" Bull yarn" and desiccated potatoes. 

Semmes has left the Sumter at the Rock, 

He has paid off all his crew ; 
He has gone to England for another ship. 

To our commerce more damage to do. 

We are still lying off Algeciras yet. 

Very fine weather for some time has been ; 

Word was passed that those who wished 
Could jump overboard and swim. 



22 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

About twenty men were overboard, 
As many more began to strip ; 

When a large shark came up in sight 
Within twenty yards of the ship. 

Edward Tibbets was the farthest away, 
He tried hard to reach the ship ; 

But the poor fellow was too late, 
The shark seized him by the hip. 

At that time our boats were all away, 
To him no assistance could be rendered ; 

He tried hard to reach the ship, 

But at last to the shark he surrendered. 

It was the most dreadful sight I ever saw, 
Such a scene I never wish to see again ; 

He left a widowed mother to mourn his loss. 
His native place was Brunswick, Maine. 

A court martial was held to-day, 
It was the first case of the kind ; 
/ The person lost one month's pay, 

Three months' police duty was assigned. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 23 

News came from Barcelona to-day, 
Through the U. S. Consul's aid ; 

There was a brig with arms and ammunition, 
To run the southern blockade. 

We soon got up steam and anchor, too, 

It did not take us very long ; 
We are cruising up and down the strait 

To catch her when she comes along. 

We are still cruising in the strait. 
But we have given It up at last ; 

We have been cruising over a week, 
By us she certainly must have passed. 

We spoke an American ship to-day 
As we were leaving the straits ; 

She was six days from Leghorn 
And bound for the United States. 

The U. S. Storeship Release arrived here, 
She has been two months up the straits ; 

We have sent all of our sick on board, 
She Is now under way for the States. 



24 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We are now over at Orange Grove, 
Which is at the upper end of this bay ; 

J. W. Whitaker, one of our engineers, 
Left for the United States to-day. 

Orders came from the Navy department, 
At general muster they were read ; 

That the grog ration would be stopped, 
Five cents a day allowed instead. 

After these sad tidings were read. 

Around the ship the old tars did whine ; 

At twelve o'clock they were piped to grog, 
It was brought on deck for the last time. 

We are at Algeciras yet 

Where for some time we have lain ; 
This is the finest summer I ever saw. 

That I am spending in sunny Spain. 

The Sumter still lies at the Rock, 

At she stays there, we cannot harm her ; 

We heard Semmes was out sinking ships ; 
He has a new vessel, called the Alabama. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 25 

We are now at the Rock taking on stores, 
We get them of one Mr. Hall ; 

At ten o'clock to-night we went to sea, 
It is thought we are going to Fayal. 

Early this morning we arrived off Cadiz, 
Met the Tuscarora going to Fayal too ; 

We signaled her to send a boat aboard, 
Which they did not like to do. 

The U. S. Tuscarora is a very nice ship, 
She's going to Fayal the Alabama to find ; 

Her crew run away with the idea 
That they can leave us far behind. 

After a short time we both went to sea, 
The U. S. Tuscarora took the lead ; 

They think they are the best ship. 
For sailing, steaming and speed. 

This morning the weather is very fine 

And land cannot be seen ; 
We saw the Tuscarora this forenoon 

Two points on our lee beam. 



26 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We Steamed very fast last night, 

Our propeller about sixty-five did turn ; 

This morning- at the break of day 

We saw the Tuscarora eight miles astern. 

Made island of St. Michael at daylight, 
And the island Terceria at close of day ; 

Went into the port and out again. 
To Fayal we proceeded on our way. 

We have arrived in the harbor of Fayal, 
It is the first time we've been here ; 

A few merchant captains are on board 
Relating about the Rebel privateer. 

The Alabama has been gone fifteen days. 
She has burnt some ships of our nation ; 

We can't follow her farther than here 
As we belong on the European station. 

The Tuscarora has just come In port. 

They did not expect to find us, they said ; 

They thought we were many miles behind, 
We beat them twenty-four hours instead. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 27 

The scenery around these Islands Is subhme, 
Approaching, Pico Is the first you see ; 

It Is a large mountain of conical shape 
Seven thousand feet above the sea. 

We weighed our anchor and went to sea, 
It was about twelve o'clock at night ; 

This morning as daylight approached 
A large steamer appeared in sight. 

As soon as she saw us she put about, 
We got up more steam and gave chase ; 

She was a side wheeler, a match for us, 
Which made quite an exciting race. 

We saw the U. S. St. Louis off our beam. 
To us she could not lend any aid ; 

We supposed this to be the steamer Hero, 
Which has lately run the blockade. 

Still on chase of said steamer yet, 

We have kept it up all night ; 
But this morning at the break of day 

The prize had vanished from our sight. 



28 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We Stopped the engine, set all sail, 
Our track to retrace we put about ; 

The said steamer is safe enough now 
For our engine is all played out. 

Came to anchor at Angra to-day, 
Our ship is in bad condition ; 

This is where the Alabama took on board 
Her crew, arms and ammunition. 

The scenery of this island is beautiful. 
And also is the harbor and town ; 

We are now under way and out to sea, 
We arrived at Fayal about sundown. 

The U. S. Tuscarora will remain here 

Our commerce to protect ; 
We bade her good-bye, we're off again, 

To sunny Madeira I expect. 

Made the island of St. Michael- 
Lying off Ponte Del Guardo to-day ; 

Lowered a boat which went on shore 
And two of the crew ran away. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 29 

We had target firing off the harbor, 
It was carried on very skilfully ; 

After firinof for two hours or more 
We set all sail and went to sea. 

We came up with a large clipper ship, 
Across her bow we fired a shot ; 

She hoisted the American flag, hove to — 
By the Alabama thought she was caught. 

One of our officers has boarded her. 
He has just now returned again ; 

She was ten days from Cardiff, 

The Eddystone of Bucksport, Maine. 

We are now off the island of Madeira, 
Running along the beautiful shore ; 

Just come to anchor in Funchal, 

Eight months since we were here before. 

The scenery of this island is superb, 
Likewise its fine Madeira wines ; 

Little has been made the last few years, 
Some disorder has killed the vines. 



30 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

Funchal is a most beautiful place. 

Many people from Europe come here ; 

It is quite a summer resort for them 
On account of its salubrious air. 

We are going away from here to-night, 
To Gibraltar again they say ; 

To see if the Sumter remains yet, 
I hope she has run away. 

We made land late this eveningr 

We can see Gibraltar light ; 
We came to anchor in Aloreciras as^ain 

About twelve o'clock at night. 

I saw a mirage extending along the Rock, 
The most beautiful sight I ever saw ; 

Our relief from the States has arrived, 
It is the U. S. gunboat Chippewa. 

The Sumter is still lying at the Rock 
And there she is likely to remain ; 

We left for Cadiz early this evening. 
Going to repair at the navy yard again. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 3 

We arrived at Cadiz about ten a. m., 
I like this place better than the Rock ; 

We will remain off the city a few days, 
Then go to the navy yard in dry dock. 

There is great talk around the ship, 
Every one seems to be in a pucker ; 

Wondering who those men were 
That stole the Captain's supper. 

As some one lay in his hammock at night, 
A dreaming of old Dan Tucker ; 

He was talking in his sleep 

And told who stole the Captain's supper. 

They were brought up to the mast, 

They owned it up like men ; 
When you want to see them smile 

Just say "Captains supper" to them. 

The U. S. St. Louis has arrived here, 
We have never met her before ; 

She fired a salute in honor of Spain, 
Which they answered from on shore. 



32 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

The old St. Louis is all out of date, 
You can see by looking at her hull ; 

They say she has burnt tons of powder 
In saluting the old king of Portugal. 

We are now on our way to the navy yard, 

The stream is not very wide ; 
Have moored our ship close by the dock — 

*' Going in " to-morrow at high tide. 

To-day we went into dry dock, 

We are high and dry fore and aft ; 

All hands are busy getting the propeller off. 
And also getting out the shaft. 

There are a few wine shops in the yard 
Where the men go and get a little tight ; 

The marines are posted on the dock. 
But some run the blockade every night. 

Came out of the dry dock to-day, 
To wait for repairs on our shaft ; 

Again at Lacaraca, in Mud Creek, 

The Kearsarge is moored fore and aft. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 33 

I am having forty-eight hours Hberty, 

In the city of Cadiz it is fine ; 
The streets are so winding and narrow 

I am lost most of the time. 

A court martial was held to-day, 

The sentence was very light ; 
The crime was running the blockade 

And getting a little too tight. 

I wish you all **A Happy New Year," 

This being New Year's day ; 
The weather is warmer here now 

Than at home the last of May. 

The U. S. Tuscarora has arrived at Cadiz 

To provision and coal ship ; 
She has been cruising for blockade runners, 

But they all gave her the slip. 

Our minstrels gave a concert to-night, 
The quarter deck wa. quite full ; 

There were a number of people from Cadiz, 
Attended by the U. S. Consul. 



34 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

Some of us went on liberty again to-day, 
To San Fernando and the city of Cadiz ; 

The people on shore are all very fine, 
Especially the beautiful Spanish ladies. 

T. C. Harris, our executive officer, 

Has just been recalled home. 
To go down on the blockade. 

He left at two o'clock this afternoon. 

We hauled into the dry dock again to-day, 
Our shaft we will soon receive ; 

It will not take us long to put it in. 
And then Mud Creek we shall leave. 

The weather Is very unpleasant now, 
The wind is very strong and severe ; 

This is March the ninth, my birthday, 
I have passed my twenty-second year. 

Our repairs are now all finished. 
The ship came out of dock to-day ; 

We are moored out in the stream 
Only for a short time to stay. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 35 

We are anchored off Cadiz once more, 

The weather is rough, it is blowing hard ; 

We shall all be glad to get to sea again 
After staying so long in the navy yard. 

Now we are out to sea once more. 
Heading for the port of Fayal ; 

We are all enjoying it very much, 
It is the first time since last fall. 

We saw a suspicious looking vessel to-day, 
Like the Alabama — after her we went ; 

It proved to be the Sea King, 

Built for the Chinese government. 

To-day as we were sailing nicely along, 
Everything seemed to be going well ; 

There was great excitement on the ship 
Caused by ringing the fire bell. 

The crew came rushing up on deck, 

Their sad fate to bewail ; 
It was amusing to see one colored man. 

How quick his face turned pale. 



36 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

There was also another of the crew 
Who seemed to be pretty "sca't;" 

In spite of all he could do 
His curly hair raised his hat. 

The Captain then came up on deck, 
He called the executive officer, 

Gave all hands stations and instructions 
In case a fire should occur. 

Our crew were all very glad, 
A false alarm it proved to be ; 

We should not like the ship on fire 
Eight hundred miles at sea. 

Made the island of St. Michael, 
This being on Good F'riday ; 

Sent a boat on shore to eet the news. 
Then for Fayal we steamed away. 

We have just arrived at Fayal, 

We were here just six months ago ; 

This is a fine place to go on shore, 
For riding donkeys is all the go. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 37 

Captain Pickering has been called home, 
We did not like to have him go ; 

We manned the yards, gave three cheers. 
Our new Captain is John A. Winslow. 

We also have a new executive officer, 
James S. Thornton is his name ; 

He was on the Hartford at New Orleans 
With Farragut of great naval fame. 

We are cruisine around the Azores now, 

Both under steam and sail ; 
We passed a whaling ship to-day 

''Cutting in " a very large whale. 

A sad event has occurred on the ship. 
It was the death of one of the crew ; 

His name was Richard Bonner, 
A young man both good and true. 

All hands were piped to bury the dead. 
Very sad and solemn it was to me ; 

After service and prayers were read 
We lowered his body into the sea. 



^8 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

Why he was burled at sea 

I could not really understand ; 

At the time we lowered him into the ocean 
We were about six miles from land. 

Back In the harbor of Fayal — 

For something to turn up we are waiting ; — 
Putting anchor chains on the ship's sides, 

Which some folks call chain plating. 

Still lying in the harbor of Fayal, 

We came here about two weeks ao^o ; 

A blockade runner just came into port, 
A side-wheel steamer called the Juno. 

To-day the Juno went out to sea, 
We are now running after her ; 

We are under a very bad handicap. 
We are dragging our five ton anchor. 

We chased her about eighty miles 
And drove her into another port ; 

They are asking why we did not catch them, 
They are making all kinds of sport. 



/ 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 39 

The Juno has just weighed her anchor, 
She Is now going out to sea again ; 

Captain Taylor bade us good-bye, 

And sang out, ** Catch me if you can." 

This time we slipped our anchor, 

Let everything go by the run ; 
We are now gaining on the Juno, 

We expect to have some fun. 

About one mile from the shore. 
There are two rocks with a gap ; 

The Juno turned and ran through. 
They thought they had us in a trap. 

We backed our ship, went 'round the rocks, 
Then after her very fast we went ; 

We are overhauling her so mighty quick 
As if out of a cannon we were sent. 

We are now along her port side. 

Crowding her three miles from shore ; 

Captain Taylor has given up the race, 
He found it was of no use trying more. 



40 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

One of the officers has boarded her, 
And our flag is now flying at her mast ; 

Captain Taylor was surprised 

To find the Kearsarge was so fast. 

When we were after them the other day 
They very easily won the race ; 

Not knowing we were dragging our anchor, 
Which to-day made a different chase. 

We are now taking her to Fayal, 
We are searching her all through ; 

If we find anything contraband 

Will send her home with a prize crew. 

We kept her three days, searched her well. 
Her papers were all properly signed ; 

We have released her and let her go 
Because no contraband could we find. 

We heard some seven months later. 
By one of her crew it was told ; 

That they had seven tons of powder 
In the bottom of her hold. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 41 

Why she was not sent to the States, 
To me it always seemed very funny ; 

They might have found the powder, 
Then we would had some prize money. 

We are out to sea cruising again, 
All ready for another exciting race ; 

If we see a suspicious looking steamer 
We are always ready to give her chase. 

Some of our old salts like to growl, 
Sometimes they have a good right ; 

When they are called to general quarters 
At half-past twelve o'clock at night. 

We had one queer and jolly old tar. 
Sometimes to the mast head would go ; 

That day he was on the lookout 

How we laughed as he cried "Smoke 'O." 

Another day when he was at the mast head 
A little rattled he seemed to be ; 

He said there were two sails in sight, 
But only one that he could see. 



42 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We arrived at Madeira last night, 
Some of us on shore to-day did go ; 

We had a sleigh ride on bare ground, 
Because here they never have any snow. 

Here they have small hacks on runners. 
They are drawn by a yoke of small cattle ; 

As you ride over the bare pavement 

It makes every bone in your body rattle. 

As you go scraping over the pavement. 
You can imagine how nice it feels ; 

I have not seen anything like a wagon, 
Or anything else that has wheels. 

When you want to go out in the country 
Plenty of donkeys you can find ; 

You are lucky if you don't get kicked off 
And left two or three miles behind. 

Now we're off to sea once more. 

Our stay in Madeira was rather brief ; 

We have just arrived at Santa Cruz 
At the island of Teneriffe. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 43 

I saw the top of Tenerlffe to-day, 

It was a beautiful sight to me ; 
It Is the largest mountain I ever saw, 

It is twelve thousand feet above the sea. 

After staying here a few days 

Off to sea again we did go ; 
We have arrived at another Island, 

It Is called the Island of Porto Santo. 

We had target firing off the town, 

For some two hours or more ; 
Then we took our boats and howitzer 

And went to drill on shore. 

The people on shore were frightened, 

They ran to a fort on a hill ; 
Thinking we were going to take the town, 

But we were only having a shore drill. 

This is a very historic Island, 

One of Columbus' stopping stations ; 

When he found the New World, 
Now one of the greatest of nations. 



44 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

Some islands that we stopped at 
We all remember them very well ; 

Boats came alongside the ship 

With all kinds of curiosities to sell. 

At Madeira they came off with canary birds, 
There was always lots of chaffing ; 

"Johnny, give me two dollars for the bird, 
Me give you the cage for nothing." 

Then they would turn it round, 

Which caused some more lauehine ; 

"You give me two dollars for the cage. 
Me give you the bird for nothing." 

Small boys came off in boats. 

To get under the bow they did strive ; 

Then they would sing out to us, 

"John, heave a chew tobac for dive." 

We used to throw over a small piece. 
They would let it get ten feet below ; 

Then they would dive down after it. 
Bring it up and to us would show. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 45 

Now we are sailing the ocean blue, 
Bad weather it has delayed us ; 

We have just arrived in Spain, 
Once more in the city of Cadiz. 

We are taking on stores and coal, 
Which had run down very low ; 

When we get filled up again 
Off to sea we soon shall go. 

Up anchor again once more, 

And now to sea we are well out ; 

We are going to the coast of France 
The Rebel Florida to rout. 

We are now off the shores of Portugal, 

Our sails are all nicely furled ; 
We have passed St. Mary's convent, 

Which is the oldest in the world. 

We have arrived at Brest, France ; 

It is one of their naval stations 
Where they build their ironclads, — 

They think they beat all other nations. 



46 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

This now will be our cruising ground ; 

The reason why we came here 
The Florida is at the navy yard, 

She is another Rebel privateer. 

We have been in port about two weeks, 

We are having quite a rest ; 
It is the coldest weather we have felt, 

That we are now having in Brest. 

When some of our men get on shore 

For the Jersey* saloon they make a rush ; 

And with some of the Florida's crew 
They very often have quite a brush. 

One of our men went ashore the other day, 
He got quite full rather quick ; 

He met some of the Florida's crew, 
They threatened him to lick. 

He braced up and squared off. 

And said, ''You had better let me be ; 

If you can't lick Yankee Sullivan 
You have no business with me." 

* English. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 47 

They finally let him alone, 

They thought he was a prize fighter ; 
When he is on board of the ship 

There is not a man who is any quieter. 

We are out on the ocean again, 

We are a sort of roving band ; 
We have just arrived at Queenstown 

In the cove of Cork, old Ireland. 

We have been lying here five days, 

There came aboard, Tom, Jerry and Mike ; 

On one side of us is the guard ship, 
On the other the island of Spike. 

We have bade good-bye to old Ireland, 
That glorious land of blackthorns ; 

We have found fifteen stowaways. 
And all of them are greenhorns. 

Back to the port of Brest again, 
Where we are most likely to stay 

Unless something new turns up, — 
Which is likely to most any day. 



48 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

Those greenhorns were British subjects, 
The British government does claim ; 

Our minister at London has ordered us 
To take them to old Ireland again. 

We have just arrived off Oueenstown, 
It is five weeks since we were here before ; 

We have put those greenhorns on a tug 
And sent them all again on shore. 

We are now steaming up the channel, 
Where we have never been before ; 

We have just arrived off Plymouth, 
On old Albion's beautiful shore. 

We sent one of our boats on shore. 
This was the news they did bring ; 

That John C. Heenan"^ was defeated 
By the English champion Tom King. 

We remained here until night, 

We are going down the channel again ; 

We have passed the Eddystone light. 
Famed beacon of the stormy main. 

♦American champion. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 49 

Now just arrived off Cherbourg, 
The first time we have been here ; 

This is where the Georgia was repaired, 
She is another Rebel privateer. 

Have arrived again at the port of Brest, 
Cruising on this coast is rather hard ; 

We have got to go out in the bay, 
The Florida is leaving the navy yard. 

They have rather funny laws here. 
And also a rebel sympathizing way ; 

If the Florida should go to sea first 
We would have to wait one day. 

We are now cruising outside the harbor 
Up and down the Bay of Biscay ; 

We are keeping a very close watch. 
To catch her if she tries to get away. 

We have been cruising outside three weeks 
Trying to get a storeship, but can't ; 

This is a dangerous place to cruise, 
Among the islands of Ushant. 



50 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

A heavy gale came up last night, 

It was about twelve o'clock ; 
We came within a very few feet 

Of running on a very large rock. 

We are out in the Bay of Biscay yet, 
Our minister does not send us relief ; 

We are short of coal, pork and beans, 

"Bull-yarn," ''duff," and ''salt-horse" beef. 

We have now given up all hopes 

Of our minister sending supplies to aid us ; 

We are obliged to leave here now, 

For stores we are on our way to Cadiz. 

We have arrived at F^errol, Spain, 

In the harbor coaling ship ; 
As now we have all our coal on board, 

For Cadiz we are continuing our trip. 

Now we are passing Corunna, Spain, 
We are running close along the shore ; 

This is a city of great fame, 

The burial place of Sir John Moore. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 51 

After a few days of pleasant sailing 
We have arrived at our destination ; 

We are taking our supplies on board 
To keep us from starvation. 

We have all of our stores now on board ; 

We are leaving Cadiz far behind 
On our way back to Brest, France, 

To see if the Florida we can find. 

We are having a very pleasant sail 

Along the coast of Portugal ; 
We are feeling better than two weeks ago, 

Of plenty to eat our ship is full. 

We have sailed through Biscay Bay, 
The weather was not very meek ; 

Now we are back again at Brest, France, 
The Florida has been gone one week. 

We were sorry the Florida got away, 
With our minister the trouble lies. 

He should have sent us a storeship, 
With coal and all other supplies. 



52 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We are now going to Calais, France, 
The Rappahannock to blockade ; 

She is another Rebel privateer, 
Receiving some more French aid. 

We have arrived in old England, 
Anchored off the city of Dover ; 

And now we are crossing the channel 
To look the Rappahannock over. 

Lying off the port of Calais, 
The Rappahannock is inside ; 

We found she cannot come out 
Only at full moon and spring tide. 

We can go away for three weeks. 
But must not go away too far ; 

So when the moon and tide are full 
We will lie off Calais bar. 

We have been cruising about the channel. 
To Boulogne, Dover and other places ; 

With the mail steamer in the channel 
We often have some pretty sharp races. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 53 

We got in a bad gale last night, 
It was more than we could stand ; 

We lost our sail and fore topmast, 
Almost ran on Goodwin Sands. 

We just barely escaped going on, 

As if by the skin of our teeth ; 
If we had struck those sands 

We would have been buried beneath. 

Our ship is in a very bad condition, 

Our fore topmast being gone ; 
For repairs now steaming up the Thames 

To the city of old London. 

Have just arrived at Greenwich, 
Where we have never been before ; 

We are taking all our powder off, 
Putting it in a magazine on shore. 

Now we are approaching London, 

It is about three o'clock ; 
We have at last secured our ship 

Inside of the great Victoria dock. 



54 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We are lying alongside the wharf, 

We are made fast both bow and stern 

This is the dock where they buih 
That leviathan, the Great Eastern. 

We have been in the dry dock. 

We are now floating on a pontoon ; 

All hands are cleaning the copper, 
We shall have our topmast soon. 

I am now having a run on shore, 
On twenty-four hours of liberty ; 

I am hustling around the city 
To see all that I can see. 

I went into the church of St. Paul, 

And after there a few hours had spent, 

Went up to Trafalgar Square, 
And saw the Nelson monument. 

My twenty-four hours have expired, 
I am now down in Blackwall ; 

The finest thing I saw in London 
Was the Cathedral of St. Paul. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 55 

After staying here about ten days, 
Our ship is repaired all around ; 

We are steaming down the Thames 
To Calais, our old cruising ground. 

We have looked in at Calais, 

The Rappahannock is still there ; 

We have crossed the channel again, 

Just arrived in the harbor of Broadstair. 

We have called at all these places, 
Margate, Sandgate, and Dungeness, 

Folkstone, Deal, Dover and Hastings, 
Dunkirk and also at Sheerness. 

We are now going into Belgium, 
I think our pilot was on a "bend," 

For he has run us fast ashore 
In the port of Ostend. 

We are getting out all of our hawsers. 

Now hauling in the slack ; 
We are very much afraid 

The Kearsarge will break her back. 



56 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We ran through a bridge, 

And also a large anchor chain ; 

When we get out of this place 

They will not catch us here again. 

We worked hard all through the day, 
We worked with all our might ; 

We got off at ten o'clock, full tide. 
Our ship was found all right. 

We are now lying at the wharf, 
For a few days we will remain ; 

Some of our officers are at Waterloo, 
That battlefield of great fame. 

This morning we left Ostend, 
Now we are off Calais water ; 

We are going to Flushing in dry dock. 
To repair the tears in our copper. 

Arrived at the port of Flushing, Holland, 
Anchored in the river Scheldt ; 

Some of our men have been on shore, 
Strong of Holland gin they smelt. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 57 

Now Steaming up to the dock, 
For a short time we will remain ; 

We have another Dutch pilot on board, 
He has run us on shore again. 

After awhile we got off all right. 
Now all secure in the dock we lie ; 

Everything is all made tight and fast, 
The Kearsarge is now high and dry. 

The dock is well up in the city, 

There are wine shops here and there ; 

It is some like being in Boston 

In the center of Haymarket Square. 

All of our crew are now on shore, 
They are having a fine old time ; 

Some are drinking old Holland Gin, 
Others dancing and drinking wine. 

We stayed in the dock about five days. 

For us it was all very fine ; 
W^e could go ashore when we pleased 

And come back any time. 



58 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

Every one Is now called on board, 
Going out of the dock to-day ; 

We are pulling out Into the stream, 
For a short time to stay. 

A few men do not come on board, 
They are on shore running loose ; 

All of them have been arrested 
And put in the Dutch calaboose. 

To be put In the Dutch jail 
They thought It rather hard ; 

They broke out of the jail 
And got out Into the yard. 

They asked the sentry at the gate 
If he would go and get the key ; 

He told them to wait a minute, 
He would go In and see. 

He was gone but a few minutes. 
Not long did he remain ; 

He came back with twenty soldiers 
And put them back In jail again. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 59 

Those men have all come on board, 
Again down the channel we glide ; 

Going to lie off Calais a few days, 
It is now full moon and high tide. 

After lying off Calais a few days 

We are taking another sail ; 
We are going across to Dover 

Where we always get our mail. 

We always like to get back to Dover 
After being out on a few days' sail ; 

This is where we receive on board 
Our brown stout, porter and ale. 

Each man is allowed one pint. 

Which they do quickly quaff ; 
It is amusing to hear them call 

For a pint of '* half-and-half." 

We have four messenger boys, 
To eat they seldom get enough ; 

They hang around the quarter deck 
And sometimes ask for more duff. 



6o FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We have some quarter gunners, 

Sometimes called ''quarter growls ;" 

If you should put a finger on a gun 
You would hear some great howls. 

We are crossing the channel again, 

Only for a short cruise ; 
We have anchored in a small fishing town. 

It is called Ambletuse. 

Now going again up the channel, 

Up into the North Sea, 
To cruise around a few days ; 

It is hard telling where next we shall be. 

We have arrived again at Flushing, 

It is about the sixth of June ; 
It is very pleasant to hear the chimes, 

Every hour they play a tune. 

We received glorious news to-day. 

The most glorious we have yet heard ; 

Mr. Dayton, our minister at Paris, 

Telegraphed the Alabama is at Cherbourg. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 6 1 

All Is bustle now on board the ship, 

The recall is now flying aloft ; 
A Dutch band came to the wharf 

And serenaded us as we steamed off. 

After we had got well out to sea 

Captain Winslow gathered us around ; 

He said the Alabama was at Cherbourg, 
And that will be our cruising ground. 

The next morning we arrived at Dover, 
Took on our supplies and mail ; 

We have them now all on board, 

For Cherbourg, France, we shall sail. 

And now we have arrived off Cherbourg, 
Drifting up and down with the tide ; 

The Alabama is behind the breakwater, 
We shall remain on the outside. 

One of our boats went on shore 

With the captain the news to learn ; 

Semmes saw Captain Winslow 
As he passed the Alabama's stern. 



62 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

While our captain was on shore 

He received a queer kind of greeting ; 

A challenge from Captain Semmes saying, 
Wait ! he would come out and meet him. 

Our captain has returned on board, 

Read the challenge from Capt. Semmes ; 

He said we would wait for him, 

Then we shall see "who sinks or swims." 

After Winslow had read the challenofe 
He said, " Be ready to fight any day ;" 

We gave him three rousing cheers. 
The echo has not yet died away. 

The admiral of the port came out 
And to Captain Winslow did say : 

''You must keep three miles from shore. 
Or we will watch you night and day." 

The admiral was very gentlemanly. 

In giving our captain these notifications ; 

Winslow told him he should not 
Break any laws of the nations. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 63 

We lay off Cherbourg about five days, 

Sunday, nineteenth of June, weather fair ; 

Our bell bad just tolled for church, 
We were readhig service and prayer. 

Hurrah ! the Alabama is coming out. 

Outside of the French waters ! 
We left off our service and prayer 

And every man is at quarters. 

We are running straight out to sea 

For about five miles or more, 
So if the fight goes against Semmes 

He can't run to the French shore. 

Semmes said we were running away, 
He thought we were frightened quick ; 

But he soon found out to his sorrow 
We were playing him a Yankee trick. 

When we were about six miles out 

We turned, straight for them did run ; 

They fired about twelve shots, 
But we had not fired a gun. 



64 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We fired a few shots from the rifle, 
Before the broadside guns could bear ; 

The gunners were getting impatient, 
Probably some of them did swear. 

Winslow finally sheered our ship. 
Tried to cross the Alabama's stern ; 

For Captain Semmes to avoid it 
In a circle he had to turn. 

Now all of our guns are booming. 
Every man doing his duty fine ; 

We are striking her in every quarter, 
Especially below her water line. 

Our brave Lieutenant Thornton, 
From gun to gun he came ; 

He said, "Take it slow and cool, boys. 
Don't fire unless you get good aim." 

He said, " Make every shot count, 

And we will win the day ; 
For every shot that hits, 

Is better than fifty thrown away." 




CAPT. JOHN A. WINSLOW, 1864. 

FROM A PHOTO TAKEN AT BOSTON IN 1864. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 65 

Winslow is manoeuvring the ship, 
He keeps us in a good position ; 

It looks as if the Alabama was 
Getting in a sinking condition. 

We are firing slow but sure, 

The Alabama's men are firing fast ; 

We are putting shells in her sides, 
One has nearly cut off her mast. 

The first few shots we fired 

We cut down their rebel fiag ; 
Our crew gave three rousing cheers 

When on their deck it did drag. 

The Alabama has just surrendered. 
But at our guns we still remain ; 

They have fired two more shots at us, 
We are giving it to them again. 

They are trying to hoist their sails. 
Trying to run for the French shore ; 

Captain Winslow said, " Give it to 'em boys. 
They can't play tricks any more." 



66 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

They are holding up a white flag, 
We have stopped firing at them ; 

They are coming to us with a boat 
Full of their wounded men. 

We lowered all the boats we could, 
Our men pulled with all their might ; 

Before they got half way there 

The Alabama had sunk out of sight. 

The crew were left floating In the water. 
We did our best trying them to save ; 

We think that more than twenty men. 
Killed and drowned, had a watery grave. 

The Deerhound came across our stern, 
Winslow to them this request did make ; 

He asked them to help and save 
The drowning, for humanity's sake. 

The captain replied, ''Aye, aye, sir," 
And quickly lowered all their boats ; 

They soon picked up forty men 

Who were hanorlnor on all kinds of floats. 

o o 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 67 

They saw a man floating in the water, 
For his life he was trying to swim ; 

He said : '' I am the captain of the Alabama, 
I beg of you to take me in." 

The Deerhound took them on board 

And quickly steamed away ; 
We always had thought Semmes a coward 

And he proved it on that day. 

We picked up about seventy men, 

The French pilot boats, twelve more ; 

They said their decks were covered 
With the dead lying in their gore. 

After every man was picked up. 

We steamed to the harbor of Cherbourg ; 
We dropped our anchor as quietly 

As if nothing had ever occurred. 

It must have been a grand sight 
To thousands of people on shore ; 

To see that grand naval fight 

And hear those great cannons roar. 



68 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We made seven complete circles. 
As nearly round as they could be ; 

They fired three hundred and seventy shots, 
We fired one hundred and seventy-three. 

They struck us twenty-eight times, 
To us considerable damage was done ; 

If that shell had exploded in our stern post 
Probably to bottom we would have gone. 

The Kearsarofe and Alabama were near alike 
As two enemies' ships could possibly be ; 

Here is a description of each of them, 
As they appeared that day upon the sea. 

The Kearsargewas built in New Hampshire, 
In the year of eighteen hundred sixty-one ; 

Her batter}^ consisted of Dahlgrens, 
Then x'\merica's best heavy gun. 

The Kearsarge was a third-class sloop, 
One thousand and thirty-one tons ; 

She carried one hundred and seventy men 
And a battery of seven guns. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 69 

The Alabama was built in England, 

On the Mersey, by Messrs. Laird & Co. ; 

Her battery was the best of English guns, 
Of which they did loudly blow. 

The Alabama was larger than the Kearsarge, 
She was one thousand and forty tons ; 

She carried about the same number of men 
And a battery of eight guns. 

Semmes said to the French people. 
When he went out they would see 

How soon he would sink the Kearsarge, 
Or have another ship for the Confederacy. 

But he was badly mistaken, 

Although strong was his will ; 
He got too much of Winslow's syrup 

And the eleven inch Dahlgren pill. 

Our captain called us to muster. 
He read a prayer with great pride ; 

He said "We won without loss of life, 
God must have been on our side." 



70 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

He said, ** Those men were in the water, 
For their lives they had to swim ; 

Give them some of your dry clothing," 
If any expense report it to him. 

The Alabama's men were much surprised. 
We treated them with such grace ; 

The grog tub was brought on deck. 

They helped us to splice the main brace. 

Lieutenant Wilson was a gentleman. 
And a gentleman he proved to be 

By offering his sword to Lieut. Thornton, 
And not throwing it into the sea. 

Thornton ofave his sword back to him 
And said : " Your sword you may keep ; 

I always appreciate a gentleman. 

Under any circumstances we may meet." 

We are keeping five of the officers. 
Sent all the rest of the crew on shore ; 

Our government will get as many exchanged 
Before they will fight us any more. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 7 1 

We had not long been in Cherbourg, 

Hundreds of people came 'round our ship ; 

They thought it strange such a vessel 
Should the famous Alabama whip. 

This is how we won that great fight : 
We were very cool, our aim was true ; 

The Kearsarge was a down-east ship. 
She had down-easters for a crew. 

There was our brave William Gowen 
Who was in the thickest of the fray ; 

He was the bravest of the brave, 
He showed it on that day. 

When he was mortally wounded 

One of his mates went to take him below ; 
He said : " No, I can crawl there alone, 

Back to your gun you must go." 

There was also another brave man, 
John W. Dempsey was his name ; 

His right arm was shot off. 
But he did not complain. 



72 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

When the surgeon was working on him, 

Cutting his right arm off, 
He was joking the Alabama's men. 

Giving them all kinds of chaff. 

There was also James McBeath, 
A very good and true man was he ; 

He received a very bad wound 
Just below his knee. 

All honor is due to our Winslow, 

Who manoeuvred the Kearsarge that day ; 

He showed to his noble, gallant crew. 
That he could fight as well as pray. 

And to our gallant Lieutenant Thornton, 
Who had charge of our battery ; 

He was as fine and brave a man 
As ever sailed the deep blue sea. 

It was a most glorious victory, 
Our country hailed it with joy ; 

Every man proved himself a hero, 
Even to the smallest boy. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 73 

We fought on our side, fair and square, 
Of them we did not ask any odds ; 

We ought to thank them very kindly 
For shooting to us their ramrods. 

The Alabama's men fought to the last, 
To them justice we must render ; 

For the ship sank beneath the waves 
In twenty minutes after their surrender. 

Semmes did very loudly proclaim 

That we were an ironclad ; 
Because we had chains over our boilers ; 

The same privilege to do, he had. 

If he had been a brave man. 

Not a coward as he proved to be. 

He would not have run away 

Nor thrown his sword into the sea. 

Nine days after the battle 

Our brave heroic Gowen died ; 

It was the only loss of life 
That occurred on our side. 



74 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We erected a monument at his grave, 
To mark the place where he does sleep ; 

He left a widowed mother in Michigan 
Who for her brave son will weep. 

If any Americans go to France, 
If to Cherbourg they should go. 

They should visit the French cemetery, 
And the grave of the Kearsarge's hero. 

After staying here about two weeks. 
Some repairs to our ship did give ; 

We are going to Dover, old England, 
To let them see that we still live. 

We are anchored again at Dover, 
We were here many times before ; 

We are crowded from morning till night 
By hundreds of people from the shore. 

They seem to feel bad here in England 
Over Captain Semmes' defeat ; 

But they do give us the honor 
Of doing it up very neat. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 75 

Semmes is here in England, 

With some a hero he seems to be ; 

They have presented him a new sword 
In place of the one he threw in the sea. 

Trained gunners from the ship Excellent 
Fired the Alabama's guns that day ; 

The Kearsarge had some Yankees 

Who showed them a more excellent way. 

Their crew were mostly British subjects, 
Of their Royal Naval Reserve ; 

Some found a watery grave 
Which they did well deserve. 

Semmes met a good New England ship 
And a good New England crew ; 

They showed France and old England 
What New Englanders could do. 

The Kearsarge stood like the mountain 

That she was named after ; 
That grand old Kearsarge mountain. 

In grand old New Hampshire. 



76 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We are receiving grateful praise 
From a grateful people at home ; 

For the sen-ice we rendered the country- 
In sendinor the Alabama to her doom. 

o 

When Farraoqit heard of the fiorht 
It filled his heart with orreat emotion ; 

He said " I had rather been in that fight 
Than any that ever occurred on the ocean. 

It reminded him of the Roman times 
In the days of the old gladiators, 

When they went out to mortal combat 
Before thousands of spectators. 

General Grant was so much elated 
When of our great victor}' he heard, 

He fired one hundred shotted sains 
Into the cit}^ of Petersburg. 

I think -wherein our great honor lies 
In winning that glorious fight, 

God must have been on our side, 
And we must have been in the right 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 77 

Lying off the harbor of Calais, 
The Rappahannock is still there ; 

If she dared come out in the channel 
Like the Alabama she would fare. 

To-day as we were lying anchored 
.. In the roads of Dungeness ; 
The Great Eastern passed close by us, 
For the cable she is oroino^ to Sheerness. 

Going again over to Cherbourg, 

After being away two weeks or more ; 

To o^et two of our wounded men 
That were in a hospital on shore. 

We have arrived at historic Cherbourg, 
Those two wounded men did receive ; 

It touched my heart very much 

To see mate Dempsey s empty sleeve. 

The U. S. Ticonderoga has arrived here. 
They were in search of the Alabama ; 

They were a few weeks too late. 

She sleeps where nothing can harm her. 



78 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

And now we have bidden our last farewell 
To Cherbourg, glorious 'twill ever be ; 

Where the Kearsarge won the great fight, 
Made a bright page in Freedom's history. 

We have arrived at Dover once more, 
For us joyful news has just come ; 
^- The U. S. Iroquois has arrived here 
With orders for us to proceed home. 

We were glad to receive those orders, 
Which we have expected for some time ; 

We are to cruise for the pirate Florida, 
In the West Indies and south of the line. 

The Iroquois went with us up to Deal 
To find a good anchoring place ; 

When we came back to Dover again 
We had quite an exciting race. 

The Iroquois Is the fastest vessel 
We have In our navy, it is said ; 

But to-day, In racing twenty miles 
We came in half an hour ahead. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 79 

Now good-bye to old England and France, 
From these shores we are to retire ; 

But we never shall forget Cherbourg, 
Where we received our baptism of fire. 

Farewell, sister ship Iroquois, 
Farewell, chalky cliffs of Dover ; 

We are steaming down the channel, 
Our cruise in these waters is over. 

Now we are ploughing the Atlantic 

Under both steam and sail ; 
It is pleasant to be out on the ocean 

If you do not get into a hard gale. 

Sailing the ocean Is all very fine. 
Especially if no storms you meet ; 

We have been in a number of gales, 
We stood on our heads as well as feet. 

The man who wrote that beautiful song 
Of the ocean's wave and rolling deep 

Had not been three years on a man-of-war 
Where the crew on beans they keep. 



8o FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

If the weather was always fine 
X And storms there never should be ; 
If the women could only climb, 
Probably they would all go to sea. 

The weather has been very fair 
Since we left the European shore, 

And we are steaming nicely along ; 

We shall be in Fayal in a few hours more. 

We are passing the island of Pico, 
It is on our starboard quarter ; 

We have come to anchor in Fayal, 
The name of the town is Del Horta. 

We shall remain here about two weeks 
And then we shall go again to sea ; 

A great many people have come on board 
To congratulate us on our victory. 

F'ayal is a good place to go on shore, 
We can do about as we please ; 

It is a great place for bumboat men, 
To sell us lots of donkey cheese. 




^ \ 



'■< 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 8 1 

About thirty of us were ashore one day, 
We got into all kinds of scrapes ; 

Each one of us hired a donkey 

And some were thrown in funny shapes. 

To see thirty old tars riding donkeys, 
It was quite a laughable scene ; 

The people were all laughing at us 

Because at riding donkeys we were green. 

Some of us were thrown over their heads, 
Then the donkey's heels would fly ; 

It reminded me of our rag shags, 

Such as we have on the Fourth of July. 

We rode five miles along the beach. 
Going, my donkey was very kind ; 

In coming back he kicked me ofT, 

I was left more than two miles behind. 

I met a boy coming after him. 

For the use of the donkey I did pay ; 

I told him I would walk into town, 

Did not care to ride any more that day. 



82 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

One old tar who was six feet two 
Could not ride a donkey, he found ; 

For when he was on the donkey's back 
Both of his feet dragged on the ground. 

To see him riding in that shape 
With us caused quite a laugh ; 

We had not gone very far 

Before the donkey kicked him off. 

We have been here about two weeks, 
And all on shore have had a good time ; 

And now we are off to sea again 

To the West Indies and south of the line. 

Now in siofht of the island of Barbadoes, 
After being some few days out ; 

As we were sailing along to-day 
We saw a very large water-spout. 

We have come to anchor in Barbadoes, 
"^ One of our boats has gone ashore ; 
This island belongs to England, — 
We were never here before. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 83 

Still lying in the harbor of Barbadoes, 

It is a very beautiful day ; 
An English soldier came on board, 

He was soon hidden away. 

They found it out on shore, 

Some officers for him came ; 
We have found and given him up, 

They will take him on shore again. 

Our Captain called him to the mast 

And kindly to him did say ; 
" My man, why is it that you 

Should want to run away ? " 

He said, '' I am tired of serving the queen. 

As for much longer, I shan't ; 
I want to go to the United States 

And fight under General Grant." 

Those officers took him on shore 

And forty lashes he will get ; 
They have not stopped their flogging 

In the British service yet. 



84 FAMOUS CRUISE 0¥ THE KE.\RSARGE. 

We are ofi' to sea cruising again, 
Going down across the line ; 
" -We do not expect Xeptune on board, 
Have been out too lonj^ a time. 

When a ship lirst crosses the Hne 

Sometimes Neptune's chariot goes by ; 

It is hard to make landsmen believe it. 
They think an old salt will sometimes lie. 

When Xeptune comes on board a ship, 
Then the old salts have great fun ; 

Ever}- landsman has to be shaved 
In order to become Neptune's son. 

One old salt said he did not like 

To cross the line, as we are now oroinor ; 

He said in the month of September 

The"auctioneer"gales are always blowing. 

We are Ivino- oft St. Paul's rock, 
Fift\--five miles north of the line ; 

Our boats went near the rock fishing, 
They caught a large mess which was fine. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 85 

We lay a few hours off the rock, 

Until it was almost dark ; 
We had some very fine sport, 

We harpooned about twenty sharks. 

A few of the smallest sharks 

We hauled up on the rails ; 
We soon let them ofo a^ain 

With a large box tied to their tails. 

We are death on all sharks, 

Have been since that fatal day 
When we were in swimming at Gibraltar, 

Where one of our crew was carried away. 

We are three degrees south of the line, 

At Fernado Noronha's Isle ; 
This is where the Brazilian oovernment 

Puts its convicts in durance vile. 

We have been looking for the Florida 
^ Ever since we left the European shore ; 
Now we are headed for America, 
Will be there in a few weeks more. 



86 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We are north of the Hne again. 

We played it on old Neptune, slick ; 

We have arrived at Fort de France, 
In the Island of Martinique. 

I went on shore to see the place. 

Dressed in my best uniform ; 
I saw the old historic house 

Where the Empress Josephine was born. 

This is one of the cleanest places, 

Very nicely arranged it seemed to be ; 

Two streams of water on each street 
Running from a reservoir to the sea. 

After staying here some few days 
On the ocean again we roam ; 

We have arrived at St. Thomas, 

From here we shall sail directly home. 

This is a very fine and secure harbor, 
Ships at anchor can safely ride ; 

The U. S. Wachusett came in last night, 
She has the pirate Florida outside. 



X 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 87 

One night as the Wachusett and Florida 
Were lying In the harbor of Bahia, 

The Wachusett ran Into the Florida, 

Slipped her cable and ran her out to sea. 

The Brazilian forts fired on the Wachusett, 
But Captain Collins did not slack ; 

He said If any of those shots hit him 
He would fire at them back. 

Collins wanted WInslow to bring her home, 
WInslow said *'No," with some hesitations ; 

"You must take her home yourself, 

Cutting her out broke the laws of nations." 

And now we hear that joyful cry, 
A most joyful cry to all shipmates ; 

**A11 hands up anchor!" Is the cry, 
''Up anchor for the United States !" 

Such a happy crew you never saw 
As round that capstan did run ; 

All of our music was playing on deck, 
Violins, banjos, bones, fife and drum. 



58 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

We went outside of the harbor, 

Took off thirty of the Florida's crew ; 

They were the meanest looking men 
That I ever saw wearing navy blue. 

We are headed for the United States, 
In seven days we w^ill make the run ; 

Captain Winslow said he should reach home 
In time to vote for President Lincoln. 

The first few days the weather was fair, 
But now we are In a very hard gale ; 

We are continually shipping seas 
And have lost our fore topsail. 

This is one of Cape Hatteras' gales, 
X Of which most old salts do know ; 
We passed about five hundred miles off 
And a great deal harder was the blow. 

After seven days rough passage 

We now have passed Minot's light ; 

We came to anchor In Boston 
About twelve o'clock at nlo'ht. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 89 

After thirty-four months cruising 
In many a foreign clime and sea 

It filled our hearts with joy to see 
America, the home of the free. 

We are anchored half-way between 

Boston and the navy yard ; 
The wharves are lined with people 

To see the now famous Kearsarge. 

When the admiral of the navy yard 

Of our arrival did learn, 
He ordered a salute fired in our honor, 

Which we did quickly return. 

The Boston papers said we were welcome. 
After sinking the Alabama in the sea 

And bringing home the good news 
Of the capture of the pirate Florida. 

The Kearsarge is at Long Wharf, 

For the Sailors' Fair she is on exhibition ; 

Probably in a few days we shall see 
The Kearsarge go out of commission. 



90 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

The city of Boston is giving us a reception, 
We are parading the streets with a band ; 

The Kearsarge crew are heroes of the day 
Receiving kind welcomes on ever)- hand. 

After parading the principal streets 
We were received by great and small ; 

Now we are listening to welcome speeches 
By the mayor and others in Faneuil Hall. 

After a number of men had spoken 
Winslow was called on to speak, too ; 

He said, " If there is anv honor to eive, 
Give it all to my gallant crew." 

Lieut. Thornton was called on to speak, 
For him our hearts were always large ; 

A lady from New Hampshire was in the hall, 
Who christened the grand old Kearsarge. 



We are marching the streets again, 

Showing our crew seems to be the rage ; 

We are attending a concert in Music Hall, 
We are the chief attraction of the stage. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 9 1 

The Kearsarge has gone out of commission ; 

Most all of the crew's time now expires, 
After having thirty-four months' cruise, 

Visiting five kingdoms, three empires. 

The Kearsarge boys were a fine crew, 
They all seemed like brothers to me ; 

There never was a more fraternal crew 
That ever sailed the deep blue sea. 

The Kearsarge is still on exhibition. 

She is crowded from morning till night ; 

Twenty-five cents to go on board 

To see the ship that won the great fight. 

The Marine Guard is still on board. 

Very often on shore they slip ; 
They are tired of showing people around 

And explaining all about the ship. 

After we have told all about the fight 
And pictured it out to them plain, 

Another crowd will gather around 
And want us to tell it again. 



92 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

One day Governor Andrew was on board, 
His presence did us much impress; 

He spoke on things relating to the war, 
He delivered a short but fine address. 

The Kearsarore was on exhibition six weeks 
For the benefit of the Sailors' Fair ; 

We have left her, bidden her good-bye. 
She has gone to the navy yard to repair. 

The Kearsarge was a strong, staunch ship, 
She stood battle, storm and disaster ; 

We had not a man-of-war at that time 
Which could steam any faster. 

This closes the cruise of the Kearsarge, 
Over thirty months in foreign waters ; 

Some of us will never meet as^ain, 
We shall be scattered in all quarters. 

Now, three cheers for the old Kearsarge ! 

Three cheers for her officers and crew ! 
Three cheers for our army and navy ! 

Three cheers for our red, white and blue ! 



AN ADDRESS TO THE CREW 



Read on the 29th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Alabama. 



Shipmates, a few words I have to say, 
They are addressed especially to you ; 

About the good old ship Kearsarge, 
Her officers and her noble crew. 

We had a fine set of officers, 

They were gentlemen in ever}' respect ; 
And each one of them did well his part 

In helping our flag to protect. 

Captain Winslow^ was a fine old gentleman, 

A man of ver}' modest ways ; 
He was out of health most of the time. 

He saw a great many sick days. 

He gave us a great many privileges 
Which other captains would not do ; 

He saw that every man was treated well, 
He was a father to his crew. 



96 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

He was a fine Christian captain, 
For humanity his heart was large ; 

But a few Sundays missed holding service, 
While commander of the Kearsarge. 

A fine man was our Lieutenant Thornton, 
Who managed our crew so skilfully ; 

It was his coolness and counsel 
That helped to gain that victory. 

All shipmates that are now living, 

If they are not too far away. 
Should try to meet every year 

On our great anniversary day. 

There Is not one of the old crew 

But whom we would be glad to meet ; 

We would share our last crust with them. 
Especially if we had hard-tack to eat. 

I have seen it in some papers 

And heard a great many people say, 

That It was one shot from the after pivot 
That sank the Alabama that day. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

I think that no one man can tell 
Which gun struck her the most ; 

For we all know very well 

She was riddled from stem to stern post. 

Every man did his duty well, 

That he was called on to do ; 
I think that the medals of honor 

Should have been given to all the crew. 

Some time after Semmes reached home 
He thought he would make a hit ; 

He wrote a book on the Alabama, 
About her cruise and outfit. 

It must have been a delicate subject 

For him to write about ; 
He ought to have written another book, 

And told how she "fit "-out. 

The Kearsarge is still in service, 

She has sailed all seas o'er and o'er ; 

I do not think she has had a better crew 
Than her first, of sixty-four. 



97 



9$ FAMOUS CRnSE OF THE KE.A.RSARCE. 

May the Kearsarg-e always be in sen^ice. 
Our people love her with great devotion ; 

She fouo^ht one of the finest naval fights 
That ever was fought on the ocean. 

We all went at our countn-'s call 

Our glorious fiag to protect 
And ver\- nobly we did our part 

On the old Kearsarge's deck. 

We were ready to fight for our countn*. 
Read}- to sacrifice both body and soul ; 

We were at our quarters ready for action 
Before the drum could beat the long roll. 

This badge we wear on our breast 

Is proof of our good fortune 
In being one of the Kearsarge crew 

On that memorable nineteenth of June. 

It shows to all of our people 

That we are veterans tried and tme ; 
That we cruised ten thousand miles 

And fousrht for the "red, white and blue." 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSAHGE. 99 

On that day we served our country well. 
And in history it will ever be recorded ; 

And as each shipmate passes to his grave. 
In heaven I hope he will be rewarded 

Shipmates, have you given a thought. 
How fast we are passing away ; 

Soon there will not be any left 

To meet on this great anniversary- day. 

Our Winslow and our Thornton, 

Other officers and many of the crew, 

Have been called to the other shore. 
Perhaps next it may be me, or you. 

Now shipmates, as each one passes away. 

Let it be our last request : 
To be covered with the American dag 

And the Kearsarge badge on our breast. 

Shipmates, I thank you for your attention, 

While listening to my rhyme ; 
It must have carried you back 

To the days of *" auld lang syne." 



lOO FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

Shipmates, we soon shall be called home 
To join that other patriot band ; 

Flag of the free, may God protect 
Beneath thy folds our glorious land ! 



WE'RE GROWING OLD TOGETHER 



Read at the gth reunion celebrating the 29th anniversary of 
the sinking of the Alabama. 



We are growing old together, shipmates, 

Our heads are silvering fast ; 
Our race of life will soon be run, 

All care will soon be past. 
Three years we sailed the ocean, shipmates, 

Through rough and stormy weather. 
And helped to save our nation's flag, — 

Now we're growing old together. 

It seems to me but yesterday 

We stood with health and pride 
In line of duty as we sailed, 

With shipmates by our side ; 
And solemn were the vows we made 

And said we'll all endeavor 
To guard our flag from traitors' hands, — 

Now we're growing old together. 

Yes, well do I remember, shipmates, 
Those battle days long gone 



IQX FAMOrS CRUISE CT THE KEaKS.VRGZ. 

Wlien we toc^ether stood in line 

WTiere shot and shell were thrown ; 

Those fii:htinor davs lied swiftlv bv 
Just like the stormy weather : 

Our tlag is iust as dear to-day — 

Thouorh we're srowino^ old tog^ether. 

Our heads with age to gray have turned. 

Our cheeks have lost their glow ; 
And we are now '* old vets." shipmates.— 

Not lads of long ago ; 
And thouorh our lives are waninof fast 

Our hearts we will not sever. 
But claim each shipmate near and dear. 

As vsc ^Tow old too^ether. 

Reunions many may return 

Our friendship to renew. 
For the bovs of the sturdv Kearsarcre 

Were a noble and orallant crew. 
Many have gone to the other shore, — 

Our hearts will yet endeavor 
To greet them as in days of yore, — 

We're growing old together. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 103 

Shipmates, let each be prepared, 

While on earth we stay, 
To answer the last bugle call 

In a Christian way ; 
To meet one another aloft 

Let us all endeavor 
Under the flag of the land of love 

Where God loves all together. 



Part II 



HISTORY OF U. S. S. KEARSARGE. 



A BRIEF SKETCH OF HER CAREER, WITH MUCH 
GENERAL IXFORMATIOX COXCEIOTIXG HER 
ENXOUXTER WITH THE ALABAMA. 



The Kearsarge was built at Portsmouth 
navy yard, X. H., in iS6i. Her engines were 
made by Woodruff & Beach, of Hartford, Conn. 
She belonged to the same class as the Tuscarora, 
Wachusett and the Iroquois. She was a third 
class sloop-of-war of 1031 tons, built of white 
oak; length 201 feet 4 inches; beam 33 feet 10 
inches; depth, 16 feet; draft of water, 13 feet 
forward and 14 feet aft She had two horizontal 
back-actinor condensino- enorines ; t^vo main 
and one auxiliar}' Martin's patent tubular boil- 
ers ; she could steam 14 knots per hour. She 
was launched Sept. 11, 1S61, and completed 
Jan. 18, 1862. Her total cost was $272,514.99. 

The first commander was Com. Chas. W. 
Pickering. On January 1 8, 1 862, he was ordered 



lOS FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

to proceed to Cadiz, Spain, in search of the 
rebel pirate Sumter. The Kearsarge sailed 
from Portsmouth, N. H., Feb. 5, 1S62, and after 
a rough vo)*age, during which she lost nearly 
all of her boats, arrived at ^Madeira on the 
seventeenth day out, and at Cadiz March 4th. 
Hearing that the Sumter was at Gibraltar, she 
left on ]\Iarch 7th, and arrived the same day at 
Algeciras, just across the bay from Gibraltar 
where the Sumter was anchored. Here she 
remained watchinor the Sumter, with occasional 
visits to Gibraltar and Tangier, until April 2d, 
when she went to Cadiz for repairs, remaining 
there until June, when she again returned to 
Algeciras to watch the Sumter. 

There was little prospect of the departure 
of the Sumter ; most of her crew had left and 
her officers had joined the Confederate steamer 
Alabama — the ''290." On September 29, 
1862, we learned that they were off the Azore 
Islands destrovinor American whalemen. The 
Kearsarge made all haste in pursuit, but the 
enemy had been gone fifteen days. After 
making a short cruise among the islands we 
returned to watch the Sumter. The latter 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 109 

vessel was sold by the Confederates soon after- 
ward and became a merchantman, and later a 
blockade runner. The Kearsarge remained in 
European waters looking for Confederate cruis- 
ers vrhich were reported about ready to sail 
from different ports. 

On April 8, 1863, Capt. John A. Winslow 
assumed command, relieving Capt. Pickering 
at Fayal, Azore Islands. The winter of 1863 
and 1 864 was occupied in watching the Florida 
at Brest, France, and in cruising about the 
English Channel watching the pirate Rappa- 
hannock. 

A GRAND XAVAL FIGHT. 

The Kearsarge lay at anchor in the harbor 
of Flushing, Holland, Sunday, June 12, 1864. 
Mr. Dayton, our minister at Paris, telegraphed 
Capt. Winslow that the Alabama had arrived 
at Cherbourg, France. The recall was hoisted 
for every one to come on board. At evening, 
as we were leaving the harbor, a Dutch band 
gave us a serenade. After the ship was well 
out to sea, Capt. Winslow called all hands to 
muster, and read the dispatch to us ; he said 
that Cherbourg would be our cruising ground 



no FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

for the present. On Monday morning the 
vessel touched at Dover, England, and took on 
board our stores and mail, and proceeding on 
to Cherbourg, arrived there Tuesday morning 
about 9 o'clock. We remained outside of the 
breakwater. Capt. Winslow took one of the 
boats and went ashore ; he passed under the 
Alabama's stern. Capt. Semmes saw him pass 
and the same day sent the following challenge : 

"Cherbourg, June 14, 1864. 
To Capt. Winslow : 

Seeing that you are outside, hearing that you came 
here for prisoners landed by me, if you will wait two or 
three days I will come out and meet you. I want to 
make some necessary repairs ; will not detain you over 
two or three days. 

R. SEMMES, Capt. C. S. S. Alabama:' 

In a few hours Capt. Winslow returned on 
board, called all hands to muster, and read the 
challenge from Semmes. He said : '' My lads 
we will wait for him, and now, my lads, I do 
not wish to have you underrate Capt. Semmes ; 
he will do all he can to gain the victory^ As 
for his crew I know nothine about them. Let 
every man be watchful and ready for action at 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. Ill 

any moment." We gave three cheers for Capt. 
Winslow and three for the old Kearsarge. 

The French admiral came out the next 
day and said that we must keep three miles 
from shore, or he would send an iron-clad to 
watch us. Capt. Winslow promised to avoid 
any breach of international law. We cruised 
up and down outside the breakwater, running 
in close at night, but keeping outside the three 
mile limit in the daytime. 

PREPARATIONS FOR THE FIGHT. 

The Kearsarge had none to make, as she 
was always ready to fight at a moment's notice. 
We were very light in coal, not having half of 
our allowance on board. The Alabama re- 
mained inside of the breakwater, making prep- 
arations for the eno^aorement and takino^ on 
coal, so as to sink well down into the water. 

THE DAV OF OUR GLORY. 

After cruising outside five days came the 
dawn of Sunday, June 19. It was a beautiful 
morning, the atmosphere a little hazy, and just 
enough breeze to make white caps on the 
waves. The morning routine had all been 



112 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

gone through ; the crew were all dressed in 
clean blue mustering clothes ; the decks were 
white as snow ; our bell had just tolled for ser- 
vice. It had hardly ceased when the Alabama 
was seen coming out, accompanied by a French 
iron-clad. When they reached the three mile 
limxit, the French iron-clad steamed back to 
port. 

THE KEARSARGE READY FOR ACTION. 

As soon as the Alabama was seen approach- 
ing every man sprang for his station. The 
guns were cast loose, ready for action before 
the long roll was beaten. 

SEMMES SAID THE YANKEES WERE FRIGHTENED. 

As the Kearsarge was well in shore and 
somewhat to the eastward of the harbor, Capt. 
Winslow decided to run out to sea, to prevent, 
should the fight go against Semmes, his 
escape to a refuge in French waters. 

THE ALABAMA BEGINS THE ACTION. 

After we had steamed out about six miles, 
we turned and ran straight for our adversary. 
It was 10.57 when the Alabama gave us a 
broadside of seven guns at 1200 yards' range. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 1 13 

The first shot struck the water within ten feet 
of the starboard bow ; the next went a few 
feet over the forecastle, under the fore yard, 
cutting some of the rigging ; the other shots 
did not do much harm. In a few minutes they 
gave us another broadside without serious 
result. 

The 30-pound rifle on the forecastle opened 
the battle on our side, firing three shots before 
the broadside guns could bear. After Wins- 
low had closed to about seven hundred yards, 
he sheered ofY so that his broadside guns could 
work. Then the fight became general. We 
were using five-seconds fuse and our shells were 
striking her and bursting on every quarter. 

Both ships were working their starboard 
batteries, and we tried to cross the Alabama's 
stern to rake. To avoid this danger the 
enemy sheered ofT, forcing us both Into a cir- 
cular movement. This was continued to the 
end of the engagement. 

THE RIFLED GUN ON THE FORECASTLE. 

This gun was manned by the marine guard ; 
it was firing faster than any other on our ship. 



114 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

About half an hour after the ficfht beean a 
shell ''stuck" about half way home and could 
not be rammed in further. We expected to see 
the gun burst when finally discharged, but it 
was done without accident, and the rifle con- 
tinued the good work it had begun. 

A BRAVE MAN. 

Lieut. James S. Thornton, our executive 
officer, was continually passing from one gun 
to another, advising the gunners to work slowly 
and coolly. He said, "Don't fire unless you 
get good aim ; one shot that hits is better than 
fifty thrown away." 

THE Alabama's rapid fire. 
The Alabama's men were firinor fast and 
several of their shots took effect in different 
parts of our ship. Our rigging was cut in a 
number of places. One 32-pound shell struck 
a few feet from the ship, glanced up and 
lodged under the forward xi-inch pivot gun — 
happily without exploding. All of our boats 
except two were completely riddled. A 100- 
pound rifle shell passed through the smoke- 
stack, exploding as it was going out. There 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



"5 



were about fifteen men standing near, but none 
were injured. Another shell came through 
below the main chains, exploding, and wound- 
ing three men. Soon a loo-pound and a 68- 
pound shell struck us on the chain plating. 
This ''plating," made by hanging our spare 
anchor chain over the sides along a distance of 
forty-nine feet, was done fourteen months 
before the fight. The lOO-pound shot severed 
the chain and went into the ship's side about 
an inch. The 68-pounder cut the chain also, 
but did little damage to the ship. Another 
shell passed through the roof of the engine 
house, just missing the head of an engineer. 
A loo-pound rifle shell struck beneath the 
counter, glanced off, and imbedded in the stern 
post, but did not explode. The shock was felt 
all over the ship. It remained there until we 
came home when it was removed with the 
damaged timber, and is now in the Naval 
Museum at Washington. 

ON THE KEARSARGE. 

Every man was doing his duty well ; all 
seemed to warm up as the fight grew hotter ; 



Il6 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

there was no flinching, every man standing by 
his gun, promptly obeying all orders. 

THE ALABAMA DOOMED. 

At times both ships were completely 
enveloped in smoke, but as the fighting was in 
a circle we soon ran out of it, and then the 
shells would fly thick and fast. After nearly 
one hour's fighting, the Alabama's fire slack- 
ened. She tried to make sail and run for the 
shore. Her fires were out, rudder and pro- 
peller injured and useless, and she was sinking 
fast. Her ensign at the mizzen peak was shot 
away early in the engagement and as they 
could not get down the one flying at the mast 
head, they fired a gun to leeward in token of 
surrender, which we acknowledged. Capt. 
Winslow ordered us to cease firing, but to 
stand by our guns. After we had stopped for 
a few moments, two shots from the enemy came 
booming at us. Capt. Winslow said : " Give 
it to them, again boys ; they are playing us a 
trick." 

SHOWING THE WHITE FLAG. 

We gave them two more broadsides, which 
did great damage ; then they held a white flag 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. II7 

over the stern, as a sign of the second surren- 
der. A boat came off with an officer. He 
said that they were fast sinking, and asked 
assistance to help save the crew. We sent the 
only two boats we had left, but before they 
were half way there the Alabama's bow rose 
high in the air, her main mast broke off, and 
down she went stern first and left many of her 
crew struggling in the water. About this time 
the English yacht Deerhound, which had been 
watching at a safe distance, came across our 
stern. Capt. Winslow asked her commander 
to help save the drowning. He lowered all his 
boats and picked up about forty men, Capt. 
Semmes and fourteen officers among them. 

The only gentleman among the rebel pirate 
officers was Lieut. Wilson who came on board us 
and gave his sword to Lieut. Thornton. Thorn- 
ton gave it back to him and told him to keep it. 
Our boats, with the aid of two French pilot 
boats, picked up sixty-five men and five 
offfcers. 

THE DEERHOUND. 

As soon as the Deerhound had our 
prisoners safe on board, she steamed rapidl}' 



Il8 FAMOUS CRUISE OP THE KEARSARGE. 

away for England. Capt. Semmes and his 
officers had thrown their swords into the sea 
when they abandoned their sinking ship. 

CASUALTIES. 

As nearly as can be learned, there were 9 
sailors and i officer drowned, 9 of the crew 
killed, and 21 wounded. We rescued a number 
of the wounded men and sent them to the 
hospital on shore. 

CASUALTIES OX THE KEARSARGE. 

Not a man was killed and only three 
wounded. John W. Dempsey, quarter gun- 
ner, lost his arm. William Gowen, who was 
wounded in the left thigh, died nine days 
after the battle. James McBeath was severely 
w^ounded in the left leg. 

After ever}^ man from the Alabama had 
been rescued and things aboard put to rights, 
Capt. Winslow called all hands to muster. 
He read a prayer and said: ''We have won 
the battle without loss of life and God must 
have been on our side. The Alabama's men 
have been in the water and you are re- 
quested to give them some of your clothing 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 1 19 

and report any expense to me. These men 

have surrendered and I want you to use them 

as brother shipmates. Your dinner will soon be 

serv^ed out to you. Share it with them." The 

grog tub was brought up and they helped us 

to "splice the main brace." The Alabama's 

men were paroled and sent on shore, except 

five officers. 

The Kearsarge fired 173 shots and the 

Alabama 370. We made seven complete 

circles during the fight which lasted one hour 

and ten minutes. The following table shows 

the number of shots fired by the Kearsarge. 

Two xi-inch guns, - - - 55 shots. 
Rifle on forecastle, - - - - 48 " 

Broadside 32-pdrs., - - - 60 " 
i2-pdr. boat-howitzer, - - - 10 " 

Total, - - - - 173 shots. 
DAMAGE TO THE KEARSARGE. 

The Kearsarge was struck as follows : 
One shot through starboard quarter, taking a slanting 

direction aft, and lodging in the rudder post. This 

shot was from the Blakely rifle. 
One shot carrying away starboard life-buoy. 
Three 32-pounder shots through port bulwarks, forward 

of mizzen mast. 



120 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

A shell, exploding after end of pivot port. 

A shell, exploding after end of chain-plating. 

A 68-pounder shell, passing through starboard bulwarks 

below mizzen-rigging, wounding three men — the only 

casualties among the crew during the engagement. 
A Blakely rifle shell, passing through the engine-room 

sky-light, and dropping harmlessly in the water beyond 

the vessel. 
Two shots below planksheer, abreast of boiler hatch. 
One, forward pivot port planksheer. 
One, forward foremast rigging. 
A shot, striking launch's topping-lift. 
A rifle shell, passing through funnel, bursting without 

damage inside. 
One, starboard forward main shroud. 
One, starboard after-shroud main topmast rigging. 
One, main topsail tie. 
One, main topsail outhaul. 
One, main topsail runner. 
Two, through port quarter boat. 
One, through spanker (furled). 
One, starboard forward shroud, mizzen rigging. 
One, starboard mizzen topmast backstay. 
One, through mizzen signal halyards, which cut the stops 

when the battle was nearly over, and for the first time 

let loose the flag to the breeze. 

All repairs to the ship were made by our 
own crew except a patch on the funnel, which 
was done by a boiler-maker from shore. We 
might have come home immediately after the 
battle without difficulty. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



121 



OFFICERS AND CREW 
U. S. S. KEARSARGE, 

JUNE 19, 1864. 



Name. 
John A. Winslow, 
James S. Thornton, 
John M. Browne, 
J. Adams Smith, 
Wm. H. Cushman, 
James R. Wheeler, 
Eben M. Stoddard, 
David H. Sumner, 
Wm. H. Badlam, 
Fred. L. Miller, 
Sidney L. Smith, 
Henry McConnell, 
Edward E. Preble, 
Daniel B. Sargent, 
S. E. Hartwell, 
Franklin A. Graham, 
James C. Walton, 
William H. Yeaton, 
Charles H. Danforth, 
Ezra Bartlett, 
George A. Tittle, 
Carsten B. DeWitt, 



OFFICERS. 
Rank. 
Captain, 
Lieut. Com., 
Surgeon, 
Paymaster, 
Chief Engineer, 
Acting Master, 



2d Asst. EngT, 
3d Asst. Eng'r, 



Native of 
North Carolina.* 
New Hampshire. 

Maine. 

Pennsylvania. 

Massachusetts. 

Connecticut. 

Maine. 

Massachusetts. 



Midshipman, 
Paymaster's Cl'k, 
Capt.'s Clerk, 
Gunner, 
Boatswain, 
Act. Master's Mt. 



Surgeon's St'd, 
Yeoman, 



Pennsylvania. 
Maine. 

Massachusetts. 
Pennsylvania. 

United States. 
Massachusetts. 
New Hampshire. 
United States. 



* Capt. Winslow waf a resident of Roxbury, Mass. 



122 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



Navie. 

Jason N. Watrus, 
Charles Jones, 
Daniel Charter, 
Edward Williams, 
George Williams, 
Charles Butts, 
Charles Redding, 
James Wilson, 
William Gowen (died), 
James Saunders, 

John W. Dempsey, 

Wm. D. Chapel, 

Thomas Perry, 

John Barrow, 

William Bond, 

James Haley, 

Robert Strahn, 

James O. Stone, 

Jacob Barth, 

Jno. H. McCarthey, 

James F. Hayes, 

John Hayes, 

James Devine, 

George H. Russell 

Patrick McKeever, 

Nathan Ives, 

Dennis McCarty, 



CREW. 

Rate. 

Master-at-arms, 

Seaman, 

Landsman, 

Officers" Steward, 

Landsman, 

Quartermaster, 

Landsman, 

Coxswain, 

Ordinary Seaman, 

Quartermaster, 

Quarter-Gunner, 

Landsman, 

Boatswain's Mate, 

Ordinary Seaman, 

Boatswain's Mate, 

Capt. of Forecastle, 

Capt. Top, 

I St Class Boy, 

Landsman, 



Coxswain, 
Landsman, 
Armorer, 
Landsman, 



N'ative of 
United States. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



123 



James Boyle, 
John C. Woodbury, 
George K Read, 
James Morey, 
Benedict Drury, 
William Giles, 
Timothy Hurley, 
Michael Conroy, 
Levi W. Nye, 
James H. Lee, 
John E. Brady, 
Andrew J. Rowley, 
James Bradley, 
> William Ellis, 
Henry Cook, 
Charles A. Read, 
William S. Morgan, 
Joshua E. Carey, 
James Magee, 
Benjamin S. Davis, 
John F. Bickford, 
William Gurney, 
William Smith, 
Lawrence T. Crowley, 
Hugh McPherson, 
Taran Phillips, 
Joachim Pease, 
Benjamin H. Blaisdell, 
Joel B. Blaisdell, 



Ordinary Seaman, United States. 



Seaman, 

Ordinary Seaman, 
Seaman, 

Ship's Cook, 
Ordinary Seaman, 
Seaman, 

Ordinary Seaman, 
Quarter Gunner, 
Seaman, 
Capt. Hold, 
Capt. afterguard, 
Seaman, 

Sailmaker's Mate, 

Ordinary Seaman, 

Officers' Cook, 

Coxswain, 

Seaman, 

Quartermaster, 

Ordinary Seaman, 

Gunner's Mate, 

Ordinary Seaman, 

Seaman, 

ist class Fireman, 



1^4 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



Charles Fisher, 
James Henson. 
William M. Smith, 
William Fisher, 
George Bailey, 
Mariin Hoyt. 
Mark G. Ham, 
William H. Bastine, 
Lyman P. Spinney. 
George E, Smart, 
Charles A. Poole, 
Timothy L}Tich, 
Will H. Donnally. 
Sylvanus P. Brackert, 
John W. Sanborn, 
Adoniram Littletield, 
John W. Young. 
Will Wainwright, 
Jno. E. Ordion, 
George W. Remick, 
Joel L. Sanborn, 
J ere Young, 
William Smith, 
Stephen Smith, 
John F. Stackpole, 
William Stanley, 
Lyman H. Hartford, 
True W. Priest 
Joseph Dugan. 



Omcers' Cook, 
Landsman. 



United States. 



Carpenter's ^Lue. 

Landsman, 

Coal-heaver. 

2d class Fireman, 

Coal-heaver, 

I St class Fireman. 
Coal-heaver, 



2d class Fireman, 
ist class Fireman, 



2d class Fireman, 



1st class Fireman, 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEAR5ARGE. 



12! 



John F. Dugan, 
James W. Sheffield, 
Charles T. Young, 
Austin Quimby, 
Roscoe G. Dolley, 
Patrick Flood, 
Henry S. Hobson, 
James Kerrigan, 
John McAleer, 
George A. Raymond, 
James Tucker, 
Isaac Thornton, 
William Y. Evans, 
William B. Poole, 
F. J. Veannoh, 
Charles Hill, 
Henr^' Jameson, 
John G. Batchelder, 
John Dw}-er, 
Thomas Salmon, 
Patrick O. Conner, 
George H. Harrison, 
George Andrew, 
Charles Moore, 
George A. Whipple, 
Edward Wallace, 
Thomas ^^arsh, 
Thomas Buckley, 
Edward Wilt, 



Coal-heaver, 
2d class Fireman, 
Orderly Sergeant, 
Corp. of Marines, 
Priv. of Marines, 

Corp. of Marines, 
Private. 



United States. 



Xurse, 

Quartermaster, 
Capt. after guard, 
Landsman, 
ist class Fireman, 
Priv. of Marines, 
ist class Fireman, 
2d class Fireman, 

Ordinar}- Seaman, 

Seaman, 

Ordinar}- Seaman, 
Seaman, 
Coal-heaver, 
Ordinary Seaman, 
Capt. Top, 



126 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



George H. Kinne, 


Ordinary Seaman, 


, United States. 


Augustus Johnson, 


Seaman, 


(( 


Jeremiah Horrigan, 


(( 


a 


William O'Halloran, 


(( 


u 


William Turner, 


(( 


n 


Joshua Collins, 


Ordinary Seaman 


1, 


James McBeath, 


(( 


a 


John Pope, 


Coal-heaver, 


u 


Charles Mattison, 


Ordinary Seaman 


', 


George Baker, 


Seaman, 


(( 


Timothy G. Canty, 


a 


(( 


John Shields, 


it 


u 


Thomas Alloway, 


(t 


t( 


Philip Weeks, 


« 


England. 


William Barnes, 


Landsman, 


United States. 


William Alsdorf, 


u 


Holland. 


Clement Antoine, 


Coal-heaver, 


Western Islands, 


Jose Dabney, 


Landsman, 


(( 


Benjamin Button, 


Coal-heaver, 


Malay. 


Jean Briset, 


" 


France. 


Vanburn Francois, 


Landsman, 


Holland. 


Peter Ludy, 


Seaman, 


a 


George English, 


u 


England. 


Jonathan Brien, 


Landsman, 


a 


Manuel J. Gallardo, 


2d class Boy, 


Spain. 


John M. Sonius, 


ist class Boy, 


Holland. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



127 



OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE 
ALABAMA. 



OFFICERS AND CREW SAVED BY THE KEARSARGE. 



The information in regard to the Alabama's ofBcers and crew was gathered at 
Cherbourg, France, by Frederick Milnes Edge, Secretary of the American Legation 
at London. 



Francis L. Gault, 


Ass't Surgeon, 


of Virginia. 


Joseph Wilson, 


3d Lieutenant. 




Miles J. Freeman, 


Engineer, 


Englishman. 


John W. Pundt, 


3d Assistant Ei 


ig'r. 


Benj. L. McCaskey, 


Boatswain. 




William Forrestall, 


Quartermaster, 


Englishman. 


Thomas Potter, 


Fireman, 


a 


Samuel Williams, 


(( 


Welshman. 


Patrick Bradley, 


(( 


Englishman. 


John Orrigin, 


a 


Irishman. 


George Freemantle, 


Seaman, 


Englishman. 


Edgar Tripp, 


(( 


a 


John Neil, 


u 


n 


Thomas Winter, 


Fireman, 


u 


Martin King, 


Seaman. 




Joseph Pearson, 


a 


Englishman. 


James Hicks, 


Capt. Hold, 


(( 


R. Parkinson, 


Wardroom Steward, " 


John Emory, 


Seaman, 


a 


Thomas L. Parker, 


Boy, 


n 


Peter Hughes, 


Capt. Top, 


ii 



Seamen.— John Russell, John Smith, Henry McCoy, 
Edward Bussell, James Ochure, John Casen, Henry Hig- 



128 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



gin. Frank Hammond, Michael Shields. David Thurston, 
George Peasey. Henry Yates, William Clark, David Leg- 
gett Samuel Henr\'. 

Ordinary Seamen. — Henr}- Godsen, David Williams, 
Henry Hestlake, Thomas Watson, John Johnson, Match 
Maddock. Richard Evans, William Miller, George Consey, 
Thomas Brandon. 

Coxswains. — William McKenzie, James Broderick, 
Wm. Wilson. 

Master-at-Arms. 

Officers' Cook. 

Quarter-Gunner. 

Capt. Main Top. Wounded. 

Capt. Fore Top, " 

Coxswain. " 

Coal-heaver. 



Edward Rawes, 
Henry Tucker, 
William Barnes, 
Robert Wright, 
William McGuire. 
William McGinley 
John Benson, 
James McGuire, 
Frank Currian, 
Peter Lopert}-, 
John Riley, 
Nicolas Adams, 
James Clemens, 
James Wilson, 



Fireman. 



Landsman. 

Yeoman. 

Boy. 



The following are those reported to have 
been killed or drowned. 



David H. Llewellyn, Surgeon, Welshman. 
William Robinson, Carpenter, A Northerner. 
Pilot. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



29 



James King, 
Peter Duncan, 
Andrew Shillings, 
Charles Priest, 
Frederick Johns, 
Samuel Henry, 
John Roberts, 
Peter Henry, 
George Appleby, 
A. G. Bartelli, 
Henry Fisher, 

The above all 
of the Alabama. 

The Deerhound carried off, according to 
her account, 41 ; the names of the following 
are known. 



Master-at-Arms, Savannah. 
Fireman, Englishman. 

Scotchman. 
Coal-passer, German. 

Purser's Steward, Englishman. 
Seaman, " 

Welshman. 

" Irishman. 

Yeoman, Englishman. 

Seaman, Portuguese. 

" Englishman. 

belonged to the original crew 



Raphael Semmes, 
John M. Kell, 
Arthur Sinclair, Jr., 
R. K. Howell, 

(This person was brother-in- 

W. H. Sinclair, 
J. S. Bullock, 
E. A. Maffit, 
E. M. Anderson, 
M. O'Brien, 
George T. Fullam, 
James Evans, 



Captain. 

I St Lieutenant. 

3d Lieutenant. 

Lieutenant of Marines. 

law of Mr. Jefferson Davis.) 

Midshipman. 
Acting Master. 
Midshipman. 

3d Assistant Surgeon. 
Master's Mate, Englishman. 



[30 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



Max Meulnier, 


Master's Mate. 




J. Schrader, 


(( 




W. B. Smith, 


Captain's Clerk. 


J. 0. Cuddy, 


Gunner. 




J. G. Dent, 


Quartermaster. 




James McFagen, 


Fireman, 


Englishman. 


Orran Duffy, 


(( 


Irishman. 


W. Crawford, 




Englishman. 


Brent Johnson, 


2d Boat Mate, 


(< 


William Nevins, 




(( 


William Hearn, 


Seaman, 


(( 


The last four belonged to the " Royal Naval Reserve." 


The dimensions of the two 


ships were : 


Alabama, 220 feet. 


Kearsarge, 232 feet. 


Length of water line, 


210 ft. 


" i98>^ ft. 


Beam, 


32 " 


33 "' 


Depth, - 


17 " 


16^ " 


Two engines apiece of 


300 H. P. 


" twoof4ooH. P, 


Tonnage, 


1040 


" ' I 03 I 



The battery of the Kearsarge consisted of 
seven guns. Two xi-inch pivqts, smooth bore ; 
one 30-pound pivot rifle; four Hght 32-pound- 
ers. We used five guns in the fight. 

The battery of the Alabama consisted of 
eight guns ; a 100-pound pivot Blakely rifle, 
one 68-pounder pivot smooth bore, and six 
heavy 32-pounders. She used seven guns in 
the battle. One can see that the two ships 
were as equally matched as though they had 
been built expressly for this ever memorable 
conflict. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 13I 

NOTES x^ND COMMENTS. 

Among the Incidents of the fight between 
the Kearsarge and Alabama, some English 
papers related that an xi-Inch shell from the 
Kearsarge fell upon the deck of the Alabama, 
and was Immediately picked up and thrown 
overboard. Probably no fight ever occurred 
in modern times in which somebody did not 
pick up a live shell and throw it out of harm's 
way, but we may be permitted to doubt in this 
case. Five-second fuses take effect somev/hat 
rapidly. The shot weighed considerably more 
than 100 pounds, and was very dlfihcult to han- 
dle. Fifteen pounds of powder, never less, was 
the firing charge for every shot fired from the 
xi-Inch pivots, the Kearsarge only opening fire 
from them when within 800 yards of the 
Alabama. With fifteen pounds of powder and 
fifteen degrees of elevation, the xi-inch Dahl- 
gren guns were capable of throwing a shell three 
miles, and yet we are asked to credit such a 
story as this — that with the same charge at less 
than half a mile, one of the shells " fell " upon 
the deck of the Alabama. 



132 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

Capt. Semmes made the following state- 
ment in his official report : — 

''Although we were now but 400 yards from each 
other, the enemy fired upon me five times after my colors 
had been struck. It is charitable to suppose that a ship 
of war of a Christian nation could not have done this 
intentionally." 

This is a very touching appeal to come from 
a man who had spent the two preceding years 
of his life in destroying unresisting merchant- 
men. Capt. Winslow had acknowledged the 
surrender when they fired a lee gun, but when 
they fired two more shots at us we opened on 
them again. 

A single fact will prove the humanity with 
which Capt. Winslow conducted the fight. At 
the close of the action our deck was covered 
with grape and canister, ready for close quar- 
ters ; but we had not used a single charge of 
this during the contest, although within capital 
range for it. The greatest consideration was 
shown for the wounded men from the Ala- 
bama who had been taken to the naval hospi- 
tal at Cherbourg, by the crev/ of the Kearsarge. 
Every thing that could be done for their 
comfort was attended to and they expressed 
great surprise at the kindness shown them. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 1 33 

WPIY THE DEERHOUND WAS PRESENT. 

That an English yacht, one belonging to 
the Royal Yacht Squadron, and flying the 
" white ensign " too, should have assisted our 
prisoners to escape after they had formally 
surrendered themselves, according to their own 
statement, by firing a gun to leeward, striking 
their colors, hoisting a white flag, and sending 
a boat to the Kearsarge, is most humiliating 
to the honor of the English nation. Some of 
those siornals must have been witnessed from 
the deck of the Deerhound. Had Capt Wins- 
low followed the requests of his officers when 
she steamed off, the Deerhound might now 
be lying not far from the Alabama. Capt. 
Winslow could not believe that a gentleman 
who was asked by himself to "save life," would 
use the opportunity to decamp with officers 
and men who by their own admission were 
prisoners of war. 

There is good evidence that the Deerhound 
was at Cherbourg for the express purpose of 
rendering assistance to the Alabama, We 
may be permitted to doubt whether Mr. Lan- 



134 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

caster, her owner, would have carried Capt. 
Winslow and his officers to England If the 
result of the battle had been reversed, and 
the Alabama had sent the Kearsarge to the 
bottom. The Deerhound reached Cherbourg 
June 1 7th. Between that time arid the night of 
the 1 8th boats were seen passing between her 
and the Alabama. It was reported that 
English gunners came over from England to 
assist the Alabama In the fight. If this Is true, 
how did the men reach Cherbourg? On the 
14th of June Capt. Semmes sent his challenge 
to the Kearsarge, stating It to be his Intention 
to fight her, "as soon as I can make the 
necessary arrangements." 

Two full days elapsed, during which time 
he took on board 150 tons additional coal and 
placed for security In the Custom House, the 
following valuables : — 700 grains of gold coin, 
six grains of jewelry, set diamonds and two 
gold watches. What then became of the 
pillage of all the ships he had destroyed ? — the 
chronometers, etc., which the London Times 
described as the spoils of a whole merchant 
fleet ? These could not be landed on French 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 135 

soil, and were not. Did they go to the bottom 
with the ship herself, or were they saved ? 
Capt. Semmes' preparations were apparently 
completed on the i6th, but still he lingered 
behind the famous breakwater, much to the 
surprise of his men. 

The Deerhound finally arrived, and the 
preparations were rapidly completed. How 
unfortunate that Mr. Lancaster did not favor 
the Times with a copy of his log book, from 
the I2th to the 19th of June inclusive! 

The record of the Deerhound is suggestive. 
On the morning of that memorable Sunday 
she steamed out from behind the Cherbourg 
breakwater at an early hour, scouted hither 
and thither apparently purposeless, ran back 
to her anchorage, preceded the Alabama to 
sea, and was the only close witness of the fight 
(while the French Iron-clad Couronne had 
the courtesy to return to port). Finally she 
picked up Semmes, thirteen officers and twenty- 
six of his men, steamed off to England and left 
the ** apparently much disabled Kearsarge " 
(Mr. Lancaster's own words) to save two- 
thirds of the Alabama's drowning crew. 



136 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

The Alabama went down riddled through 
and through with our shot and shell and, as 
she sank beneath the green waves of the 
channel, not a single cheer arose from us, the 
victors. The order was given, '* Silence, boys," 
and in perfect silence this terror of American 
commerce plunged to her last resting place. 
There is but one key to the victory. The 
vessels were as nearly as possible equal in size, 
speed, annament and crew, and the contest 
was decided by the superiority of the xi-inch 
Dahleren euns of the Kearsarcre over the 
Blakely rifle and the 6S-pounder of the Ala- 
bama, in conjunction with the greater coolness 
and surer aim of the Union crew. The Kear- 
sarge was not, as represented, especially armed 
and manned for destroying her foe, but was 
similar to all the vessels of her class in our 
navy. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE, 137 

INXIDEXTS BEFORE AND AFTER 
THE BATTLE. 



WIXSLOW TAKEN FOR THE SHIPS STEWARD. 

During the fight Capt Winslow wore 
a rather rustv* uniform. A strano-er would 
not have taken him for the commander. 
When the Alabama's men came on board as 
prisoners, one of them stepped up to him and 
said : "Are you the steward of this ship?" 

Winslow answered : "I am the captain of 
this ship." 

The man excused himself and said that he 
was ver}' faint after being in the water, and 
would like some whiskey. Winslow said, '* My 
man, I am sorry for you." and pointing to our 
flag, said : " That is the flag you should have 
been under." 

Whiskey was ordered for him. 

GEORGE A. Vv'HIPPLE. 

While the Kearsarcre was watching the 
Sumter at Gibraltar, in 1862, a man by the 
name of George A. Whipple ran away from 
her and shipped on the Kearsarge. 



138 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

Whipple belonged in North Dana, Mass. 
When the war broke out he was in New 
Orleans. He had his choice of q-oincr into 
the rebel army or serving on the Sumter. He 
chose the latter, because he thought there 
would be a better chance to get away in 
some foreign port. While the Sumter was 
cruising around the West Indies, Whipple 
obtained liberty to go ashore. He did what 
a great many old salts do, — got full, — then 
went on board and cursed Capt. Semmes and 
the rebel iiag. Semmes had him put in irons 
and a straight jacket, and tied up by the 
thumbs. He kept him in that position so 
long that when they took him down they 
thought he was dead. A man by the name 
of Robinson, who was also a Northerner, 
worked over him and brouo^ht him back to 
consciousness. Whipple always swore that 
whenever he met Semmes he would shoot 
him on sight. 

After the Alabama had surrendered and 
the prisoners were coming on board, Whipple 
was found crouching down on the topgallant 
forecastle with a Sharp's rifle in hand. He 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 139 

was asked what he was going to do. He said : 
"Capt. Semmes shall never come on board 
this ship alive." Some of us thought it would 
be dishonorable to have anything like that 
occur after the surrender. We talked to him 
and finally reported him to one of the officers, 
who made him put the rifle away. As Capt. 
Semmes did not come on board, but crot awav 
on the Deerhound, I think it was fortunate for 
him. I believe that Whipple would certainly 
have shot him. The man who worked over 
Whipple on the Sumter was also on the Ala- 
bama. He was found dead, floating on the 
water, and picked up by one of our boats and 
brought on board. Whipple seemed to be 
much affected by his death. 

The above has hitherto been unwritten his- 
tory, ver^^ few of us knowing the facts. 



I^XIDEXTS AT DOVER, ENGLAND. 

While the Kearsarore was in the Eno^lish 
Channel, before and after the fight, Capt. 
Winslow kept open ship to visitors, especially 
at Dover. On pleasant days we received hun- 
dreds of people, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The 



140 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

poor boatmen said the Kearsarge was a God- 
send to them, as it made business lively when 
we were in port. 

Our crew enjoyed receiving visitors, and 
were very gentlemanly in showing and explain- 
ing all about the ship. It was amusing to 
hear the questions that were asked. One lady 
said : *' I think you must all come from New 
York." 

**Why do you think so?" 

** Because you talk so nice. You talk bet- 
ter than we do." 

Another lady said: **You are from Amer- 
ica, are you not?" 

*'Yes, ma'am." 

" I have a brother in America. Do you 
know him?" 

"What is his name?" 

"James Wilson." 

"Where does he live?" 

"Oh, somewhere near New York." 

"What is the name of the town?" 

"St. Paul." 

Many had the idea that New York is about 
half as large as London, with a few towns 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 141 

around it, and that this Is all there Is of 
America. 

One woman said : '' Why, you talk like us ! " 
'' Did you not know that Americans speak 
English?" 

'* No ; I thought they spoke some barbar- 
ous lanofuao^e like the French." 

o o 

After we had shown them around the ship, 
as they were about to go on shore they would 
offer us a shilling, or more, which every man 
refused to take. They were much surprised 
to find that we refused to take money. They 
said that on their own ships the men jumped 
at the chance. We told them that if we were 
on shore we would take a glass of wine with 
them. 



One Sunday afternoon, while on shore at 
Dover, a shipmate and myself went up to Dover 
Castle. The guard at the gate would not let 
us in. A fine-looking gentleman came up, and 
he was refused admission also. He told the 
guard that he lived in Wales, came to London 
on business and to Dover for the purpose of 
seeing this castle. He pleaded to go In, but 



142 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

in vain. He turned to us and said : '* Gentle- 
men, I see by your uniforms that you belong 
to that American ship lying in the harbor." 
Then turning to the officers of the guard, he 
said : "I have been on board that ship to-day 
and was shown all over it, and invited into the 
cabin by the captain. I find I am used better 
by foreigners than by my own countrymen." 

Turnino- to us acrain, he said : " Gentle- 
men, if you will come with me down into the 
city, I will take you to the Ship hotel, and will 
pay for anything you may call for." 

We thanked him for his kindness ; but, as 
it was near sundown, we had to go on board 
the ship. 

Amonof the visitors that came on board at 
Dover was a gentleman accompanied by some 
ladies. One of the old salts showed them 
about the ship. After they had seen every- 
thing and were about to go ashore, the gentle- 
man said: "I suppose you owe your victory 
to those h'Armstronij i^uns ? " 

The old salt replied : '' I know nothing 
about your h'Armstrong guns. These are 
Dahlgrens, and they are d — n headstrong 
guns." 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 1 43 

ANECDOTES OF THE '^ FRENCH 
BLOCKADE." 



While the Kearsarge was watching the 
pirate Florida at Brest, France, from Septem- 
ber, 1863, until February, 1864, the following 
event took place : The pirate Florida lay in 
the navy yard being repaired. The Kearsarge 
was anchored in the harbor. When a few of 
our men went on shore a large number of the 
Florida's crew would gather around and insult 
them. Sometimes they would have quite a 
lively fight. When some of our officers were 
on shore in the evening, they were often 
insulted and jostled on the street by men of 
the rebel crew, and this continued for some 
time. Winslow finally became disgusted, and 
notified the French authorities of the port 
that he should arm his boats' crews when they 
went ashore. This he did for a few weeks. 

Capt. Winslow also sent a letter to the cap- 
tain of the Florida complaining of the acts of his 
men. The letter was directed to the " Captain 
of the rebel steamer Florida." In a few hours 
it was returned to Capt. Winslow by an officer 



144 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

from the Florida, saying It was not properly 
addressed and would not be received. They 
wanted Winslow to acknowledge the Florida 
as a Confederate steamer, which he would not 
do. After this all trouble between the two 
crews ceased. 



The French and English governments had 
what was called a ''twenty-four-hour law;" 
that Is, If the Kearsarge and Florida were 
both anchored in the harbor at the same time, 
and one then went to sea, the other would be 
obliged to wait twenty-four hours. About the 
first of February the Florida's repairs were all 
finished. She was likely to come out of the 
navy yard any day and go right out to sea. 
As the Kearsarge would have to wait twenty- 
four hours, to avoid being caught in that man- 
ner Capt. Winslow went outside of the harbor 
and cruised up and down the Bay of Biscay. 
After cruising outside about three weeks, run- 
ning short of coal and other supplies Capt. 
Winslow requested our minister at Paris to 
send us a supply vessel. None came, how- 
ever, and we were obliged to give up block- 
ading the Florida. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 1 45 

CAPT. WINSLOW ADVISED TO DO AS LORD 
NELSON DID. 

There is a story told of Lord Nelson that at 
a certain naval battle he was sent in with a few 
ships to fight the enemy. As Nelson seemed 
to be getting the worst of it, the admiral 
hoisted the signal for him to withdraw, and 
one of Nelson's officers reported it. As Lord 
Nelson had only one eye, he put the glass up 
to the blind side and said, '' I don't see it," and 
kept on fighting till he gained the victory. 

One eveninof duringf the three weeks' cruise 
for the Florida in the Bay of Biscay, Capt. 
Winslow was on deck talking with one of the 
officers. It was evident that he was emphat- 
ically expressing his desire to destroy the rebel 
pirate with her officers and crew. 

He finally said that if the Florida came 
outside, he did not want to see her surrender. 

The officer replied: "You needn't, cap- 
tain ; you needn't, captain ! Put the glass up 
to that blind eye of yours the same as Lord 
Nelson did." 

Capt. Winslow had been unfortunate in 
losing one eye a short time before. 

If the Florida had come out he probably 
would have taken the ofificer's advice, and she 
would have met a worse fate than the Ala- 
bama suffered four months later. 



146 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



ONE OF OUR CREW TAKEN BY 
A SHARK. 



In the month of July, 1862, while we were 
watching the pirate Sumter at Gibraltar, the 
following sad event occurred. The day being 
Sunday, there was a bull fight up the bay at a 
place called San Roque. Most of our officers 
attended. It being near sundown, all of the 
boats except one went to bring them on board. 
Some of the old salts saw something in the 
water between us and the Rock. They called 
it a sunfish. They got leave to take the only 
boat that we had left to go and harpoon it. 
They had not been gone very long when some 
of the men asked permission to go in swim- 
ming, a thing we had done probably twenty 
times before. 

About twenty of us were in the water and 
as many more were getting ready to jump 
overboard, when the cry arose : '' A shark ! a 
shark!" 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 1 47 

The men had formed a sort of circle in the 
water. Edward Tibbets, a seaman, was in the 
center of the group. The shark seized him by 
the thigh, raised him out of the water, when 
his leg broke, and the shark let go. As the 
rest of us had climbed on board, we could see 
that his leg was useless. He swam a few 
strokes, when the shark seized him again by 
the hip and held him about two feet under 
water until he was drowned. Then the shark 
darted off with him. That was the last we 
saw of poor Tibbets. 

The ''sunfish" which the men saw proved 
to be a shark over fifteen feet long. We called 
the boat back, but before they came near the 
ship poor Tibbets had gone to the bottom. It 
was a trying scene to see the poor fellow car- 
ried away and not one of us able to render 
him any assistance. 



His correct name was Sampson instead of Tibbets. About one year before 
he was on a merchant ship which was captured by the Sumter. He was released on 
parole not to serve against the Confederacy. This is why he was under another 
name. 



148 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

THE NAVAL CAREER OF CAPT. 
JOHN A. WINSLOVV. 



The following was obtained through the kindness of the daughter of the late 
Rear Admiral John A. Winslow, Miss M. C. Winslow, of Roxbury, Boston, Mass. 

John Aucrum Winslow, seventh In descent 
from John Winslow and Mary Chilton, was 
born in Wilmington, N. C, on November 19, 
181 1. His father, Edward Winslow, of Bos- 
ton, Mass., carried on a mercantile house in 
that city. John Aucrum Winslow married his 
first cousin, Catharine Amelia Winslow, of 
Boston. 

Winslow was sent to Boston to be edu- 
cated, and was fitted for college by the Rev. 
William Sewell, of Dedham, Mass. ; but decid- 
ing to enter the navy, he obtained his commis- 
sion as midshipman through the Influence of 
Daniel Webster, February i, 1827. 

His first cruise was In the U. S. S. Fal- 
mouth in the West India squadron. In 1833 
he was promoted to passed midshipman and in 
1839 ^o lieutenant, these years being employed 
in alternate sea or shore service. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 149 

In 1842 he joined the U. S. frigate Mis- 
souri, one of the first steam naval vessels. She 
visited the principal ports in the United States, 
then sailed for the ^Mediterranean. When off 
Gibraltar she was destroyed by fire. Winslow 
was sent by the American minister at Spain as 
bearer of dispatches with the intelligence to 
the United States, and immediately returned 
with dispatches from our government to Spain. 

In December, 1845, he sailed in the U. S. 
S. Cumberland for Mexico (during the :Mexi- 
can warj, and was engaged in several boat 
expeditions up the Rio Grande. He was at 
the battle of Palo Alto, and in the attack on 
Tobasco he landed with a division of men. 
For his gallantr}' on that occasion he was pub- 
licly complim.ented by Commodore Perr}^ 

In 1849, ^^^^^ serving as ordnance officer 
at the Boston navy yard, he took part in the 
naval operations off Mexico, being executive 
officer of the U. S. frigate Saratoga. 

From November, 185 1, to April, 1855, he 
was attached to the U. S. frigate St. Law- 
rence in the Pacific, received his commission 
as commander in September, 1855, and com- 



150 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

manded the Boston naval rendezvous till 1858. 
He was light-house inspector for the 2d dis- 
trict in 1860-61. 

At the opening of the war of the Rebellion 
he applied to the department for active service 
and was ordered to the Mississippi under Com- 
modore Foote, and shared, with other officers, 
in superintending the construction of the gun- 
boats. 

Foote had great confidence in Winslow, 
and he was sent with the first division of the 
flotilla down the river to Cairo. Having per- 
formed this duty, he was ordered to take down 
the second division. While in command of the 
flagship Benton, she ran aground owing to the 
falling of the river. In endeavoring to get 
the Benton afloat Winslow was badly injured 
by the parting of an iron hawser, one of the 
links of the chain striking him with such force 
in his left arm as to tear the flesh open to the 
bone, severing the tendons. He was confined 
to the bed for some time, so severe was the 
wound, and then ordered home to recuperate. 
When only partially recovered he returned to 
the Mississippi and rejoined the flotilla, being 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 151 

present at F'ort Pillow. He commanded the 
expedition up the White River for the relief 
of Gen. Curtis' army, and was engaged in sev- 
eral skirmishes with guerillas. 

He was promoted captain July i6, 1862, 
and in December of that year was sent abroad 
to take com.mand of the U. S. S. Kearsaree. 
June 19, 1864, he sunk the Alabama off Cher- 
bourg harbor, France. From that date he 
received his promotion as commodore. He 
arrived home with the Kearsarge at Boston 
harbor November 7, 1864. 

In 1865 he superintended the construction 
of iron-clads at East Boston. In 1866 Commo- 
dore Winslow was ordered to command the 
Gulf squadron. In 1868 he was president of 
a board to appraise iron-clads at New Orleans, 
Cairo and League Island. In 1869-70 he com- 
manded the Portsmouth, N. H., navy yard, and 
received his commission as rear admiral. In 
July, 1870, he assumed command of the Pacific 
fleet, cruising from port to port in those waters. 
In July, 1872, his health was so broken that he 
resigned his command while off Panama, re- 
turned to San Francisco in the Pacific Mail 



152 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

Steamer, and passed the winter of 1872-73 in 
Oakland, Cal. He returned East in April, 
1873, passed a few weeks in Washington, 
D. C, then went on to Boston to his home 
in Roxbury, where he died September 29, 
1873. His remains were interred in Forest 
Hill cemetery of that city. A boulder from 
Mt. Kearsarge, N. H., marks his grave. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 1 53 

THE NAVAL CAREER OF CAPT. 
JAMES SHEPPARD THORNTON. 



For the following I am indebted to the kindness of Mrs. Jam? s S. Thornton, 
of Thornton's Ferry, N. H. 

Capt. Thornton sprang from the sturdy old 
New Hampshire stock that first settled the 
state. His great-grandfather, Hon. Matthew 
Thornton, was president of the provincial 
congress, and one of the signers of the Dec- 
laration of Independence. James Bonaparte 
Thornton, the father of Capt. Thornton, was 
also distinguished, being second auditor of the 
treasury under Jackson and afterwards minister 
to Peru. 

James Sheppard Thornton was born at 
Thornton's Ferry, in the town of Merrimack, 
N. H., February 25, 1827. At the age of 
fourteen he entered the naval academy at 
Annapolis, through the influence of President 
Pierce and Hon. Charles G. Atherton. Dur- 
ing the Mexican war he was on the blockade 
in the Gulf of Mexico. He continued in the 
navy until 1850, when he resigned. In 1854 
he re-entered the service, and was assigned to 



154 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

the storeshlp^Rellef of the BraziHan squadron. 
He continued on this ship until the opening of 
the Civil war, in the meantime being promoted 
to lieutenant. 

When the war began he was on the brig 
Bainbridge, but was transferred to Admiral 
Farragut's flagship, the Hartford, as executive 
officer. At the battle of New Orleans the cap- 
tain of the Hartford was killed. Thornton 
took command of the ship and carried her 
through safely. Admiral Farragut compli- 
mented him on the quarter-deck of the Hart- 
ford, and said to him: "In saving the ship 
you saved the victory." He was commis- 
sioned as lieutenant-commander in July, 1862, 
and was placed in command of the gunboat 
Winona off Mobile in 1862. One day he 
espied a rebel steamer, gave chase and de- 
stroyed her under the guns of Fort Morgan, 
although the cannons of the fort were firing 
on his vessel with terrific vigor during the 
engagement. 

After a short time he was relieved from 
command of the Winona and placed on wait- 
ing orders. The following facts were heard 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 1 55 

from Mr. Thornton's own lips while he was 
on the Kearsarge : ''After coming North and 
reporting as ordered, I was promised by the 
assistant secretary of the navy the command 
of a vessel in a few weeks. I was told that I 
could have a short leave of absence. I went 
home, and after being there three days received 
orders to go to New York inside of twelve 
hours, as a vessel was to sail in that time for 
Fayal, Azore Islands, and that I was to be 
executive officer of the Kearsarge." This was 
a great disappointment to Mr. Thornton. Be- 
ing a man of commanding presence, full of 
energy and Yankee grit, he would have pre- 
ferred to stay on the blockade. 

In April, 1863, the Kearsarge arrived at 
Fayal. There we found Capt. John A. Wins- 
low waiting to relieve Capt. C. W. Pickering, 
and also Lieutenant-Commander James S. 
Thornton to replace T. C. Harris, our former 
executive officer, who had gone home some 
two months before. Mr. Thornton had not 
been on our ship but a few weeks when he 
proposed to Capt. Winslow that they put the 
spare anchor chains on the ship's sides, which 
was done. 



156 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

Mr. Thornton was a man of simple and 
unassuming ways, of great courage, having a 
miHtary bearing that always commanded re- 
spect. In a few weeks he had won the lasting 
love of all the crew. During the next fourteen 
months we passed through a number of storms, 
dangers and hardships, and finally, on the 19th 
of June, 1864, he showed us that we had not 
overrated him. A braver man never stood on 
a ship's deck. Passing continually from one 
gun to another, telling the gunners to take it 
slow and cool, unmindful of any danger to 
himself, he gave us that steadiness which won 
the victory. 

Mr. Thornton was afterward advanced sev- 
eral numbers in his grade. After he left the 
Kearsarge he was commander of the U. S. S. 
Iosco, and later was executive officer at the 
navy yard at Portsmouth, N. H., for three 
years. Subsequently he was in command of 
the Monongahela, and was stationed at Rio 
Janeiro. 

One day in the winter, early in 1874, while 
encountering a heavy gale, he fell in his state- 
room, receiving injuries which finally proved 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 1 57 

fatal. He was removed to Germantown, Pa., 
where he died May 14, 1874. 

The remains of Capt. Thornton are buried 
at Merrimack, N. H. A marble pedestal marks 
the last resting place of one of our bravest 
naval officers. It is hoped by the survivors of 
the original crew that in the near future a 
boulder may be taken from Mt. Kearsarge and 
placed at his grave. 



158 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



THE KEARSARGE SINCE THE WAR. 



After the Kearsarge was repaired at the 
navy yard, on April i, 1865, she went into 
commission. She made a cruise in European 
waters under Commander A. D. Harrell, U. S. 
N., returned to Boston, and went out of com- 
mission August 14, 1866. On January 16, 
1868, she was again put into commission at 
Boston, and made a cruise to the South Pacific 
ocean under Commander James S. Thornton, 
U. S. N., her executive officer in the combat 
with the Alabama, going out of commission at 
the Mare Island navy yard, Cal., December 8, 
1873. She again went into commission at 
Mare Island, and made a cruise in Asiatic 
waters under the following commanders : D. 
B. Harmony, until March i, 1875; R. F. R. 
Lewis, until July 22, 1875; F- ^' McNair, 
until January 15, 1878, when she went out of 
commission at Boston, Mass., May 15, 1879. 
She was commissioned at Boston and made a 
cruise on the North Atlantic station, under 
Commander H. F. Picking, until May 7, 1880, 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 1 59 

and Commander Geo. B. White until August 
16, 1882. On August 16, 1882, Commander 
William R. Bridgman assumed command, and 
on August 20, 1883, having been detached 
from the North Atlantic station, the Kear- 
sarge left New York on a European cruise. 
Commander C. D. Sigsbee assumed command 
October 20, 1885. She returned to Ports- 
mouth, N. H., and went out of commission 
December i, 1886. 

November 2, 1888, she went into commis- 
sion again at Portsmouth, and has since been 
attached to the North Atlantic station, under 
Commander A. D. Brown, until May 15, 
1889; Commander E. M. Shepard, until Sep- 
tember 30, 1889 ; Commander W. H. Whiting, 
until November 5, 1889; Lieut.-Commander 
Charles Belknap, until November 18, 1890; 
Commander Horace Elmer, until March 27, 
1892, and up to the present time Commander 
A. S. Crowninshleld. 

June 19, 1893, she was at Portsmouth, N. 
H., for slight repairs, and on that day she was 
visited by twenty-four of the old original crew. 
Capt. Crowninshleld gave us a warm reception. 



i6o 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 



He said : '' Boys, the ship Is yours." The Kear- 

sarc^e Naval Association of Portsmouth and 

Boston did escort duty. We all received a 

kind welcome from the admiral of the yard. 

The following are the names of those who 

met at Portsmouth, N. H., June 19, 1893, to 

celebrate the twenty-ninth anniversary of the 

sinking of the Alabama : 

Charles Fisher, 
Philip Weeks, ; 
James O. Stone, 
James Magee, 
Joel L. Sanborn, 
Charles Redding, 
John W. Sanborn, 
John T. Stackpole, 
Charles A. Poole, 
John C. Woodbury, 
William W. Wainwright, 
Austin Quimby, 
Henry S. Hobson, 
Lyman P. Spinney, 
Adoniram Littlefield, 
Sylvanus P. Brackett, 
Roscoe G. Dolly, 
William Smith, 
Jere Young, 
John W. Young, 
True W. Priest, 
Lyman H. Hartford, 
Martin Hoyt, 
William G. Evans, 



Washington, D. C. 
Lynn, Mass. 

Marblehead, Mass. 
South Boston, Mass. 
Boston, Mass. 
Hyde Park, Mass. 

Waltham, Mass. 
Beverly, Mass. 
Lawrence, Mass. 
Salem, Mass. 
Bonds Village, Mass. 
Kittery, Me. 
Dover, N. H. 
Tilton, N. H. 

Concord, N. H. 
Newmarket, N. H. 
Portsmouth, N. H. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. l6l 

Austin Quimby, of Salem, Mass., is presi- 
dent of the Kearsarge Survivors' Association, 
and William W. Wainwright, of Lawrence, 
Mass., secretary and treasurer. As nearly as 
can be learned, there are not over fifty of the 
old crew, out of 163, who are living. It will 
not be long before the last one of that gallant 
company will be called to join those gone 
before. 

May the Kearsarge always be preserved. 
She has a warm place in the hearts of all 
Americans who love the Union and honor the 
navy, and the flag which she battled to main- 
tain before thousands of people at Cherbourg, 
France, on that great day, June 19, 1864. 

HENRY S. HOBSON. 
Bonds Village, Mass., Sept. 30, 1893. 



APPENDIX. 



FAREWELL, KEARSARGE. 



NOTE. 



Bonds Village, Mass., April, 1894. 
This book was written in 1893, and the reader can 
Uttle imagine what pleasure I enjoyed in recalling the 
events of our memorable cruise. The Kearsarge was in 
active service, doing more sea duty than any four iron 
ships we had and receiving great honor in every port she 
touched, and was growing dearer to our people every 
year. It is with a sad heart that I record the following. 



HER LAST CRUISE. 



THE GALLANT OLD KEARSARGE WRECKED. 



On January 27, 1894, the Kearsarge was 
ordered to proceed from San Domingo to 
Bluefields, Nicaragua, to protect American in- 
terests there, which were beheved endangered 
by the troubles between Nicaragua and Hon- 



164 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

duras. She sailed from Port aii Prince, Hayti, 
on January 30th, and was wrecked on Ronca- 
dor reef February 2d. 

Roncador reef lies about 200 miles north- 
east of Bluefields, in the Caribbean sea, and is 
a long, low reef almost submerged. The west- 
ern end rises only a few feet above the ocean, 
and to the eastward it is a narrow, submerged 
ledge extending for eight miles. The Kear- 
sarge struck on the eastern or submerged end 
of the reef, and the officers and crew were 
transported by boats to the portion known as 
the island. 

The reef is known among seafaring men as 
the '* graveyard of the Caribbean." The roar 
of the surf can be heard for miles, but on a 
calm night a vessel can approach until it is 
impossible to retreat, without the slightest 
warning of peril. The island owes its danger 
to the fact that a current sets toward it which 
runs at a rate varying from one to four 
knots an hour. The island is barren, not a 
spear of grass grows on it, and in severe 
storms the sea sweeps over it. Its highest 
point is only ten feet above sea level. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 1 6 



The Kearsarge struck the reef about 6.45 
P.M. The lookout cried, "Breakers ahead I" 
and in a few minutes the vessel went on the 
reef. She heeled over on her side. In order 
to right her all of the masts were cut away, 
and the guns were thrown overboard. As 
soon as this was done she partly righted. At 
daylight the boats were lowered, and the offi- 
cers and crew were transported to the island, 

Lieut. Brainerd, with a picked boat crew, 
left February 4th for the island of Old Provi- 
dence, ninety miles distant, reaching there the 
morning of the 5th, and sailing thence on a 
vessel for Colon. On arrival there he tele- 
graphed the facts to the secretary of the navy, 
who immediately ordered him to charter a ves- 
sel at Colon and rescue the men. The steamer 
City of Para was chartered, sailed on February' 
14th for Roncador reef, and brought off the 
shipwrecked men, arriving at New York the 
2 1 St of February. 

Congress appropriated $45,000 to raise the 
Kearsarge. The Boston Towing Co. took 
the contract. Their steamer, the Orion, left 
Boston on March 13th, arriving at the reef the 



l66 FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 

2 1 St. When the reef was reached it was found 
that the Kearsarge had been burned. It seems 
that the lawless natives had looted the vessel, 
and, in order to get the copper, burnt her. 

There was not much of the original Kear- 
sarge remaining at the date of her loss. There 
was not a gun on her which had helped to sink 
the Alabama. The xi-inch guns are at the 
Mare Island, Cal., navy yard. The four 32- 
pounders were sold at the Boston navy yard 
in F'ebruary, 1880, to M. Lissbuger, of New 
York. The 30-pound Dahlgren rifle was sold 
in December, 1875, ^^ the Boston Machine 
Co. The 12-pound howitzer was melted up in 
October, 1889. 

The old engines of the Kearsarge were re- 
moved at the Portsmouth, N. H., navy yard 
during June and July, 1887, and broken up 
during September, 1891. The fragments were 
put in the scrap heap, turned over to the 
foundry, and used for various purposes. The 
engines which replaced those removed were 
taken from the U. S. S. Nantasket. The ship 
had been extensively repaired at different navy 
yards, and it is safe to say that not more than 
half of her was original at the time of the wreck. 



FAMOUS CRUISE OF THE KEARSARGE. 1 67 

Thus ends the career of one of the most 
historic ships, ever ready to go at short notice 
to any place where duty called. If all patriotic 
Americans feel sad over her loss, how must we, 
the few original survivors, feel ? She was our 
home for thirty-four months, carrying us safely 
through many storms and dangers, and finally 
triumphed in one of the most brilliant naval 
fights which ever took place. But we are glad 
she died in the harness, — much better than to 
be laid up in "Rotten Row." 

That she was a victim to the carelessness 
of her own officers was proved at the court- 
martial of Capt. Heyerman and Lieut. Lyman. 
Capt. Heyerman was suspended for one year 
on waiting-orders pay. Lieut. Lyman received 
the same sentence. Capt. Heyerman is spoken 
of by friends and acquaintances as a very able 
officer. That he reo^rets the destruction of our 
gallant old ship is not doubted, and probably 
he would rather have lost his own life in hon- 
orable service for his country. 

Farewell, farewell, old Kearsarge ! 

Thy majestic form we'll never see more ; 
You were wrecked, looted and burnt 

On the reef of Roncador. 



CONTENTS. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Portrait of the Author, 

From a photo taken in 1891. 



Frontispiece 



FACING PAGB 
32 



U. S. S. Kearsarge, 1893, ..... 
Capt. John A. Winslow, 1864, .... 64 

From a photo taken at Boston in 1864. 

The Kearsarge, 1864, 80 

Group of Officers of Kearsarge, • . .120 

From a photo taken a few weeks after the fight at Dover, Eng. 

Crew of the Kearsarge at Quarters, . . 128 

From a photo taken soon after the fight by Rondin, Cherbourg, France. 

Marines at the 30-POUND Dahlgren Rifle on 

THE Topgallant Forecastle, . . . 144 

From a photo taken soon after the fight by Rondin, Cherbourg, France. 



PART I.— Poetical. 



Preface, 

Dedication, . . . . 

Cruise of the Kearsarge, 
An Address to the Crew, 
We're Growing Old Together, 



3 

5 

7 

95 



PART II. 



HISTORY, NARRATIVE, BIOGRAPHY, ANECDOTE. 



History of U. S. S. Kearsarge. 

Built at Portsmouth, .... 

Watching the Sumter, ... 

A Grand Naval Fight, .... 

The Alabama Sunk, .... 

Prisoners Escape on the British Yacht Deerhound, 

Casualties, 

Damage to the Kearsarge, 



107 
108 
109 
116 
117 
n8 
119 



Officers and Crew of U. S. S. Kearsarge, 

June 19, 1864, 121 

Officers and Crew of the Alabama, . . 127 

Dimensions and Batteries of the Kearsarge and 

Alabama, 130 

Notes and Comments. 

Throwing a Shell Overboard, . . . . 131 

Humanity of Capt. Winslow, . 132 

Why the Deerhound Was Present, 133 

No Cheering Over a Vanquished Foe, . . . 136 

Incidents Before and After the Battle. 

Winslow Taken for the Ship's Steward, . . 137 

George A. Whipple, . . . . 137 

Incidents at Dover, England, . . 139 



Anecdotes of the "French Blockade.' 



At Brest, 

The Twenty-four-IIour Law, 



143 
T44 



Winslow Advised to Do as Lord Nelson Did, . 145 

One of Our Crew Taken by a Shark, . 146 

Naval Career of John Aucrum Winslow, 148 

Naval Career of James Sheppard Thornton. 153 

The Kearsarge Since the War, . . .158 

Twenty-ninth Reunion of Crew, June 19, 1S93, • I59 

Farewell, Kearsarge ! 

Story of Her Last Cruise and Shipwreck, . . 163 



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